Small Molecule Agents, Compositions, and Formulations, for Internal Use, Displaying Inhibitory Activity Against Gram-positive and/or Gram-negative Organisms

ABSTRACT

Active components comprising lauric acid, or a lauric acid derivative, are utilized independently, or in combination, to provide new and useful compositions for bacteriostatic action against susceptible pathogens. The lauric acid derivative includes one or more of 12-aminododecanoic acid, 12-amino-1-dodecanoic acid methyl ester, sucrose monolaurate, 12-(7-nitrobenzofurazan-4-ylamino) dodecanoic acid, 4-nitrophenyl dodecanoate, 1-lauroyl-rac-glycerol, 3-oxo-N-(2-oxocyclohexyl) dodecanamide, butyl laurate, benzyl laurate, isoamyl laurate, monolaurin, isopropyl laurate, pentyl laurate, and hexyl laurate. A preparation includes combining the active component with lecithin, and after an initial processing phase, coating with chitosan or a carrier. Final compositions may be or may contain particles, such as nanoparticles. Final compositions, or formulations containing said final compositions, may be utilized internally, causing one or more membrane changes (e.g., a membrane of an internal target pathogen, which may or may not be an antibiotic-resistant pathogen). At least some compositions inhibit growth of one or more Gram-positive bacterial species and one or more Gram-negative bacterial species.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation application, continuing fromU.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/102,684, filed Aug. 13, 2018, whichclaims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Appl. No. 62/544,755filed Aug. 11, 2017, and claims the benefit of priority to U.S.Provisional Appl. No. 62/569,284 filed Oct. 6, 2017, and claims thebenefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Appl. No. 62/681,087 filed Jun.5, 2018, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety, and to the maximum extent.

BACKGROUND

There remains a need for new and improved active components, one or moreof which may be harnessed, as a direct acting, small molecule agenthaving antimicrobial properties, said one or more active componentsbeing utilized and/or harnessed individually, independently, or in asuitable combination.

There remains a need for one or more active components, as describedabove, that may be harnessed, as a direct acting, small molecule agenthaving antimicrobial properties, said one or more active componentsbeing utilized and/or harnessed individually, independently, or in asuitable combination, and when so utilized and/or harnessed as at leastone direct acting, small molecule agent, said at least one directacting, small molecule agent is a new and/or improved small moleculeagent with a good safety profile.

There remains a need for one or more active components, as describedabove, that may be harnessed, as a direct acting, small molecule agenthaving antimicrobial properties, said one or more active componentsbeing utilized and/or harnessed individually, independently, or in asuitable combination, and when so utilized and/or harnessed as at leastone direct acting, small molecule agent, said one or more activecomponents and/or said at least one direct acting is new and/orimproved, having a good safety profile, and a status and/or notificationas Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) (e.g., in compliance with or inassociation with U.S. Food and Drug Administration).

There remains a need for one or more active components as describedabove that may be harnessed as a direct acting, small molecule agenthaving antimicrobial properties and suitable for utilization against oneor more harmful and/or infectious pathogens, in which said one or moreactive components may be utilized and/or harnessed individually,independently, or in a suitable combination.

There remains a need for one or more active components as describedabove that may be harnessed as at least one direct acting, smallmolecule agent having antimicrobial properties and suitable forutilization against one or more harmful and/or infectious pathogens,including one or more antibiotic-resistant pathogens, in which said oneor more active components may be utilized and/or harnessed individually,independently, or in a suitable combination.

There remains a need for one or more active components as describedabove that may be harnessed as at least one direct acting, smallmolecule agent having antimicrobial properties and suitable against oneor more antibiotic-resistant pathogens, in which said one or more activeingredients may be utilized and/or harnessed individually,independently, or in a suitable combination, and, when so utilizedand/or harnessed as the at least one direct acting, small moleculeagent, has a good safety profile.

There remains a need for one or more active components as describedabove that may be harnessed as at least one direct acting, smallmolecule agent having antimicrobial properties and suitable against oneor more antibiotic resistant pathogens, in which said one or more activecomponents may be utilized and/or harnessed individually, independently,or in a suitable combination, and, when so utilized and/or harnessed asthe at least one direct acting, small molecule agent, has a good safetyprofile and a status and/or notification as GRAS.

There remains a need for one or more active components as describedabove that may be harnessed as at least one direct acting, smallmolecule agent having antimicrobial properties, suitable against one ormore antibiotic resistant pathogens, and effective against one or moreantibiotic resistant pathogens identified in a World Health Organization(WHO) Global Priority List. See, WHO, Global priority list ofantibiotic-resistant bacteria to guide research, discovery, anddevelopment of new antibiotics, Feb. 27, 2017, 7 pages. The GlobalPriority List includes the following pathogens: Acinetobacter baumannii(carbapenem-resistant strains), Pseudomonas aeruginosa(carbapenem-resistant strains), Enterobacteriaceae (carbapenem-resistantstrains, third generation cephalosporin-resistant strains, such asKlebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp., Serratia spp.Proteus spp., Providencia spp., Morganella spp.), Mycobacterium spp.,Enterococcus faecium (vancomycin-resistant strains), Staphylococcusaureus (methicillin-resistant strains, vancomycin intermediate andresistant strains), Helicobacter pylori (clarithromycin-resistantstrains), Campylobacter (fluoroquinolone-resistant strains), Salmonellaspp. (fluoroquinolone-resistant strains), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (thirdgeneration cephalosporin-resistant strains, fluoroquinolone resistantstrains), Streptococcus pneumoniae (penicillin-non-susceptible strains),Haemophilus influenza (ampicillin-resistant strains), Shigella spp.(fluoroquinolone-resistant strains). Said one or more active componentsmay be utilized and/or harnessed individually, independently, or in asuitable combination.

There remains a need for one or more active components as describedabove that may be harnessed as at least one direct acting, smallmolecule agent having antimicrobial properties, suitable against morethan one antibiotic resistant pathogen, and effective against more thanone antibiotic resistant pathogen identified by the WHO Global PriorityList, in which said one or more active components may be utilized and/orharnessed individually, independently, or in a suitable combination.

There remains a need for one or more active components that may beharnessed as a direct acting, small molecule agent having antimicrobialproperties, suitable against a plurality of antibiotic resistantpathogens, and effective against a plurality of and/or more than half ofthe antibiotic-resistant pathogens identified by the WHO Global PriorityList, in which said one or more active components may be utilized and/orharnessed individually, independently, or in a suitable combination.

There is also a need for at least one new and/or improved direct acting,small molecule agent with antimicrobial properties, suitable forutilization against one or more pathogens.

There is also a need for at least one new and/or improved direct acting,small molecule agent with antimicrobial properties, suitable forutilization against one or more pathogens, including harmful and/orinfectious pathogens, and/or antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

There is still further a need for at least one new and/or improveddirect acting, small molecule agents with antimicrobial properties,suitable for utilization against one or more antibiotic-resistantbacteria, and effective against one or more antibiotic-resistantpathogens identified by the WHO Global Priority List.

There is even further a remaining need for at least one new and/orimproved direct acting, small molecule agents with antimicrobialproperties, suitable for utilization against a plurality ofantibiotic-resistant bacteria, and effective against a plurality ofand/or more than half of the antibiotic-resistant pathogens identifiedby the WHO Global Priority List.

When so utilized and/or harnessed as the at least one direct acting,small molecule agent, as described above, a good safety profile and/or astatus and/or notification as GRAS may also be needed.

Medium chain fatty acids with seven to 12 carbon atoms, such as lauricacid with 12 carbon atoms, have been found to have health benefits.Moreover, the medium chain fatty acid, lauric acid, has been found toexhibit some selective bacteriostatic activity, having generally a weakinhibitory activity when applied at low amounts topically, or when addedat low amounts to certain foods, or when evaluated in vitro at lowamounts in growth cultures, the selective activity being against certaingram-positive microorganisms, such as gram-positive organisms,Streptococcus group A and Streptococcus beta-hemolytic non-A, and S.aureus, as well as Candida. The in vitro minimal inhibitoryconcentration (MIC, or lowest concentration of compound at which nomicroscopic evidence of growth, as turbidity, was observed as comparedwith control samples) of lauric acid against such gram-positiveorganisms is such that it is considered acceptable for use in topicalformulations for bacteriostatic purposes. When provided in higherconcentrations (e.g., two parts lauric acid to one part diluent), lauricacid, applied topically, may be associated with bactericidal activity;however, there have also been reports of a high level of resistanceassociated with such topical applications of lauric acid, such as inmicroorganisms that are native in the flora of the skin (e.g.,enterococci, lactic acid bacteria, staphylococci). With topicalapplication of lauric acid, bactericidal activity also appears to beselective, being stronger against certain gram-positive microorganisms,such as streptococcus species, as compared with S. aureus, and generallyineffective against many common gram-negative bacteria (e.g., E. coli).In some topical or in vitro studies, a fatty acid, such as lauric acid,has been found to be less potent at physiologic pH values.

According to several reports, the free carboxyl group in a medium chainfatty acid, such as lauric acid, appears necessary for activity againstgram-positive microorganisms. For example, esterification of the freecarboxyl group on a medium chain fatty acid, such as lauric acid, hasbeen found to greatly decrease bactericidal activity. When esterified(e.g., with a monohydric alcohol, such as cholesterol, methanol,ethanol), there has been found to be a great reduction in overallinhibitory effect or bacteriostatic activity against the samegram-positive bacteria. In some reports, lauric acid esterified withmonohydric alcohols, cholesterol, and methanol, no longer demonstratedany bacterial inhibition when tested in vitro against the abovegram-positive organisms. For example, with an ethyl group, there is noactivity in some reports; ethyl laurate appears to be inactive. With amethyl group, there is very little activity, and sometimes no activity;methyl laurate appears to be similarly ineffective. According to otherreports, fatty acid derivatives (aldehydes, acetate, ethyl ester, amideor substituted amide), while somewhat active (e.g., offering some butminimal activity against certain bacteria), have demonstrated far lessactivity than their corresponding acids. Some lacto-bacteria were foundto be protected against lauric acid toxicity when one or moreemulsifying agents were introduced with the fatty acid (e.g., Tween 80,Tween 60, phosphatide, lipositol). Additional protection of suchbacteria against the inhibitory activity of lauric acid was alsodemonstrated with addition of a protein (e.g., bovine serum albumin) ordialyzed whey. Thus, the literature has been conflicted, and does notindicate any real benefit in the use of a medium chain fatty acid, suchas lauric acid, in the forms described above.

When lauric acid is esterified to a polyhydric alcohol (such asglycerol), the esterified complex may be more active (e.g., against atleast some of the selective gram-positive organisms). For this reason,it has been contemplated by many investigators that improving activityis associated with esterification to a glycerol, the improvement being amono-ester (also known as monolaurin). Interestingly, the higheractivity of monolaurin (via the esterification to a monoglycerin) isdecreased and/or inactivated in the presence of certain additives, suchas a starch and certain phospholipids. The number of inconsistencies aswell as contradictory reports over the years regarding bacteriostaticand/or bactericidal activity of fatty acids, including medium chainfatty acids, such as lauric acid, and certain derivatives thereof, asrepresented above, is likely connected to its inability to be utilizedinternally.

What raises more issues when trying to utilize a medium chain fattyacid, such as lauric acid, as an anti-infective agent is itsinsolubility. Due to its insolubility, and other physio-chemicalproperties, a medium chain fatty acid, such as lauric acid, hasgenerally been contemplated in its fatty form only for topical useagainst only the certain gram-positive bacteria described above,provided in high concentrations, or, has been added in its fatty form tocertain packaged foods for use against only the certain gram-positivebacteria described above, provided in high concentrations, to improvefood shelf-life of the food while in the packaged state (e.g., to assistwith inhibition of pathogen growth only before the food is opened andeaten). In fact, a fatty acid, such as lauric acid has not been found tobe effective when taken internally. When ingested, it is quicklyconverted and/or is quickly broken down, and, as a result, does notremain in a form associated with its inhibitory activity with topical orpackaged uses (as described above). While, some have found some weakactivity of certain fatty acids, the weak activity does not translate toprevention of growth of the pathogen.

The plethora of studies with lauric acid, and certain derivatives(exemplified above), has, so far, not led to fruition, particularly inpursuit of a direct acting, small molecule agent having fittingantimicrobial properties directed against gram-positive and/orgram-negative pathogens (e.g., harmful, toxigenic, or infectiousgram-positive and/or gram-negative organisms, rather than nativebacteria or normal microflora) that reside inside or within a subject.

When ingested, a medium chain fatty acid, such as lauric acid, ismetabolized differently from many other fatty acids, as the medium chainfatty acids generally move directly to the liver from the digestivetract where they are broken down as a quick source of energy, or turnedinto a ketone. This, and the general insolubility of a medium chainfatty acid, such as lauric acid, has continued to provide challenges. Todate, a medium chain fatty acid, such as lauric acid, is not readilysuitable to be internalized or ingested while also providing, afterinternalization or ingestion, direct-acting and fitting antimicrobialproperties against internal and harmful and/or infectious pathogens.Thus, to date, there remains a dearth of suitable compositions as directacting, small molecule agents having fitting antimicrobial propertiesdirected against Gram-positive and/or Gram-negative pathogens (e.g.,harmful and/or infectious Gram-positive and/or Gram-negative organisms)that reside inside or within a subject, in which the direct-acting,small molecule agents comprise at least one or more active componentshaving a medium chain fatty acid backbone, or a 12-carbon atom backbone.

SUMMARY

Described herein are previously unreported compositions and/or new usesof said compositions that meet at least one or more than one of theneeds described above. Said compositions overcome one or more of theissues described above. Such compositions, many of which are referred toherein as medium chain fatty acid derivative compositions, arecompositions comprising one or more active components, at least one ofthe one or more active components has a medium chain fatty acidbackbone, and is one that was previously discounted due to a generalinability for use internally as an anti-infective and/or as anantimicrobial for a subject in need thereof, the medium chain fatty acidbackbone being or originating as dodecanoic acid (lauric acid) and/orhaving or originating as twelve carbon atoms. Hence, in one or moreembodiments, the active component is or includes dodecanoic acid (lauricacid). In some embodiments, includes may constitute comprising. In someembodiments, includes may constitute comprising, in addition to one ormore other components, in which said one or more other components donot, on their own, provide bacteriostatic and/or bactericidalactivities. In some embodiments, includes may constitute comprising, inaddition to one or more active components, in which one or more of saidone or more active components on their own may provide somebacteriostatic and/or bactericidal activity. In some embodiments,includes may constitute consisting essentially of, in which the one ormore active components consist essentially of lauric acid.

In one or more embodiments, the active component is or includes one ormore medium chain fatty acid derivatives, which is based on ororiginated as a dodecanoic acid (lauric acid). An exemplary medium chainfatty acid backbone being or originating as dodecanoic acid (lauricacid) and/or having or originating as twelve carbon atoms is depicted inFIG. 1, a methyl ester of dodecanoic acid.

The compositions described herein have been prepared in new and usefulways that overcome previous difficulties. The compositions describedherein when prepared in any of the new and useful ways, as describedherein, may now be so utilized so as to meet at least one of the one ormore needs described above. Any one or more of the describedcompositions may be provided as a direct acting, small molecule agenthaving fitting antimicrobial properties directed against gram-positiveand/or gram-negative pathogens (e.g., harmful and/or infectionsgram-positive and/or gram-negative organisms) that reside inside orwithin a subject, in which the direct-acting, small molecule agentcomprises one or more active components having or originating with amedium chain fatty acid backbone, or having or originating with 12carbon atoms. Any one or more of the described compositions may beutilized as a direct-acting, small molecule agent to inhibit activity ofone or more gram-positive and/or gram-negative organisms (bacteriostaticactivity), and/or for killing one or more certain organisms. Eachcomposition, when prepared in one of the new and useful ways describedherein, may include more than one of the described active components(e.g., more than one type). Each composition, when prepared in one ofthe new and useful ways described herein (with or without more than oneof the described active components) may be provided independently,individually, as a direct acting, small molecule agent. A composition,when prepared in one of the new and useful ways described herein (withor without more than one of the described active components) may beprovided independently, and in combination with another compositiondescribed herein, each composition functioning as a direct acting, smallmolecule agent. A composition, when prepared in one of the new anduseful ways described herein (with or without more than one of thedescribed active components) may be provided in combination with anothercomposition described herein, each composition functioning as a directacting, small molecule agent. Other agents may also be provided, saidother agents acting prophylactically, and/or as an anti-infective,and/or to alleviate one or more symptoms of a subject in receipt of theone or more compositions described herein.

In one or more embodiments, any one or more of the describedcompositions provided as a direct-acting, small molecule agent, may beutilized to inhibit activity of one or more antibiotic-resistantpathogens, including one or more of the antibiotic-resistant pathogensidentified by the WHO Global Priority List.

In one or more embodiments, any one or more of the compositions,including the one or more direct-acting, small molecule agent describedherein, include at least one or more medium chain fatty acid asdescribed herein and/or one or more medium chain fatty acid derivativeas described herein. In one or more embodiments, a composition describedherein includes more than one medium chain fatty acid as describedherein and/or more than one medium chain fatty acid derivative asdescribed herein.

In one or more embodiments, a composition as described herein, whichincludes at least one or more active components, including one or moremedium chain fatty acid as described herein and/or one or more mediumchain fatty acid derivatives as described herein, is a composition thatbehaves as a membrane intercalating composition (e.g., intercalating ina membrane of a cell, such as an outer membrane of a target pathogen).

In one or more embodiments, a composition as described herein, whichincludes at least one or more active components, including one or moremedium chain fatty acid as described herein and/or one or more mediumchain fatty acid derivative as described herein, is a composition thatdecreases membrane fluidity and/or normal or usual or previous membranefunction (e.g., in a membrane of a cell, such as an outer membrane of atarget pathogen).

In one or more embodiments, a composition as described herein, whichincludes at least one or more active components, including one or moremedium chain fatty acid as described herein and/or one or more mediumchain fatty acid derivative as described herein, is a composition thatcauses saturation of a membrane (e.g., a membrane of a cell, such as anouter membrane of a target pathogen).

In one or more embodiments, a composition as described herein, whichincludes at least one or more active components, including one or moremedium chain fatty acid as described herein and/or one or more mediumchain fatty acid derivative as described herein, is a composition thatinhibits growth of a target, such as a target pathogen.

In one or more embodiments, a composition as described herein, whichincludes at least one or more active components, including one or moremedium chain fatty acid as described herein and/or one or more mediumchain fatty acid derivative as described herein, is a composition thatinhibits growth of a target in a biologic system, such as a targetpathogen in a biologic system.

In one or more embodiments, a composition as described herein, whichincludes at least one or more active components, including one or moremedium chain fatty acid as described herein and/or one or more mediumchain fatty acid derivative as described herein, is a composition thatkills a target, such as a target pathogen.

In one or more embodiments, a composition as described herein, whichincludes at least one or more active components, including one or moremedium chain fatty acid as described herein and/or one or more mediumchain fatty acid derivative as described herein, is a composition thatis internalized and kills an internal target, such as an internal targetpathogen.

In one or more embodiments, a composition as described herein, whichincludes at least one or more active components, including one or moremedium chain fatty acid as described herein and/or one or more mediumchain fatty acid derivative as described herein, is a composition thathas better specificity for one or more Gram-positive pathogens ascompared with the medium chain fatty acid from which the derivative (asdescribed herein) was derived from. In one or more embodiments, acomposition as described herein, which includes at least one or moreactive components, including one or more medium chain fatty acid asdescribed herein and/or one or more medium chain fatty acid derivativeas described herein, is a composition that has better specificity forone or more Gram-positive pathogens as compared with the medium chainfatty acid when used alone, or the medium chain fatty acid derivativewhen used alone. In one or more embodiments, the Gram-positive pathogenincludes an antibiotic resistant pathogen. In one or more embodiments,the Gram-positive pathogen includes an antibiotic resistant pathogenidentified by the WHO Global Priority List.

In one or more embodiments, a composition as described herein, whichincludes at least one or more active components, including one or moremedium chain fatty acid as described herein and/or one or more mediumchain fatty acid derivatives as described herein, is a composition thathas better specificity for one or more Gram-negative pathogens ascompared with the medium chain fatty acid from which the derivative (asdescribed herein) was derived from. In one or more embodiments, acomposition as described herein, which includes at least one or moreactive components, including one or more medium chain fatty acid asdescribed herein and/or one or more medium chain fatty acid derivativeas described herein, is a composition that has better specificity forone or more Gram-negative pathogens as compared with the medium chainfatty acid when used alone, or the medium chain fatty acid derivativewhen used alone. In one or more embodiments, the Gram-negative pathogenincludes an antibiotic resistant pathogen. In one or more embodiments,the Gram-negative pathogen includes an antibiotic resistant pathogenidentified by the WHO Global Priority List.

In one or more embodiments, a composition as described herein, whichincludes at least one or more active components, including one or moremedium chain fatty acid as described herein and/or one or more mediumchain fatty acid derivatives as described herein, is a composition thathas an improved specificity and a broader target pathogen spectrum forthe group selected from one or both Gram-negative pathogens andGram-negative pathogens, the specificity being better and the targetpathogen spectrum being broader than found with the medium chain fattyacid from which the derivative (as described herein) was derived from.In one or more embodiments, the one or both Gram-negative pathogens andGram-negative pathogens include antibiotic resistant pathogens. In oneor more embodiments, the one or both Gram negative pathogens andGram-negative pathogens includes more than one antibiotic resistantpathogen identified by the WHO Global Priority List.

In one or more embodiments, a medium chain fatty acid derivativecomposition is described herein, the composition including one or moreactive components, the one or more active components being or includingat least 12-aminododecanoic acid, an example of which is depicted inFIG. 2. In some embodiments, this may also be found as12-aminododecanoic acid hydrochloride (HCl), and/or a salt thereof.Similarly, an analog thereof, as well as one or more structural and/orfunctional alternatives, and/or one or more structural and/or functionalequivalents may be utilized (not shown). A combination of said one ormore 12-aminododecanoic acid, salt, analog, structural and/or functionalalternative, and/or structural and/or functional equivalent, in one ormore forms, may also be provided as the one or more active components.In some embodiments, including may constitute comprising. In someembodiments, including may constitute comprising, in addition to one ormore other components, in which said one or more other components donot, on their own, provide bacteriostatic and/or bactericidalactivities. In some embodiments, including may constitute comprising, inaddition to one or more active components, in which one or more of saidone or more active components on their own may provide somebacteriostatic and/or bactericidal activity. In some embodiments,including may constitute consisting essentially of, in which the one ormore active components consists essentially of 12-aminododecanoic acid.In some embodiments, including may constitute consisting essentially of,in which the one or more active components consists essentially of anyone or more of the one or more 12-aminododecanoic acid, HCl, salt,analog, structural and/or functional alternative, and/or structuraland/or functional equivalent, or any combination thereof.

In one or more embodiments, a medium chain fatty acid derivativecomposition is described herein, the composition including one or moreactive components, the one or more active components being or includingat least 12-amino-1-dodecanoic acid methyl ester, an example of which isdepicted in FIG. 3. In some embodiments, this may also be found as12-amino-1-dodecanoic acid methyl ester HCl and/or a salt thereof. Inaddition, an analog thereof, as well as one or more structural and/orfunctional alternatives, and/or one or more structural and/or functionalequivalents may be utilized (not shown). A combination of said12-amino-1-dodecanoic acid methyl ester, salt, analog, structural and/orfunctional alternative, and/or structural and/or functional equivalent,in one or more forms, may also be provided as the one or more activecomponents. In some embodiments, including may constitute comprising. Insome embodiments, including may constitute comprising, in addition toone or more other components, in which said one or more other componentsdo not, on their own, provide bacteriostatic and/or bactericidalactivities. In some embodiments, including may constitute comprising, inaddition to one or more active components, in which one or more of saidone or more active components on their own may provide somebacteriostatic and/or bactericidal activity. In some embodiments,including may constitute consisting essentially of, in which the one ormore active components consists essentially of 12-amino-1-dodecanoicacid methyl ester. In some embodiments, including may constituteconsisting essentially of, in which the one or more active componentsconsists essentially of any one or more of the one or more12-amino-1-dodecanoic acid methyl ester, HCl, salt, analog, structuraland/or functional alternative, and/or structural and/or functionalequivalent, or any combination thereof.

In one or more embodiments, a medium chain fatty acid derivativecomposition is described herein, the composition including one or moreactive components, the one or more active components being or includingat least sucrose monolaurate (sucrose laurate). In one or moreembodiments, the sucrose monolaurate may also be found as an analogthereof, as well as one or more structural and/or functionalalternatives, and/or one or more structural and/or functionalequivalents (not shown). A combination of said sucrose monolaurate,analog, structural and/or functional alternative, and/or structuraland/or functional equivalent, in one or more forms, may also be providedas the one or more active components. In some embodiments, including mayconstitute comprising. In some embodiments, including may constitutecomprising, in addition to one or more other components, in which saidone or more other components do not, on their own, providebacteriostatic and/or bactericidal activities. In some embodiments,including may constitute comprising, in addition to one or more activecomponents, in which one or more of said one or more active componentson their own may provide some bacteriostatic and/or bactericidalactivity. In some embodiments, including may constitute consistingessentially of, in which the one or more active components consistsessentially of sucrose monolaurate. In some embodiments, including mayconstitute consisting essentially of, in which the one or more activecomponents consists essentially of any one or more of the one or moresucrose monolaurate, analog, structural and/or functional alternative,and/or structural and/or functional equivalent, or any combinationthereof.

In one or more embodiments, a medium chain fatty acid derivativecomposition is described herein, the composition including one or moreactive components, the one or more active components being or includingat least 12-(7-nitrobenzofurazan-4-ylamino) dodecanoic acid. In one ormore embodiments, the 12-(7-nitrobenzofurazan-4-ylamino) dodecanoic acidmay also be found as an analog thereof, as well as one or morestructural and/or functional alternatives, and/or one or more structuraland/or functional equivalents (not shown; e.g., an amine-reactive and/orfluorescent analog, such as 2-(7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-ylamino)dodecanoic acid). A combination of said12-(7-nitrobenzofurazan-4-ylamino) dodecanoic acid, analog, structuraland/or functional alternative, and/or structural and/or functionalequivalent, in one or more forms, may also be provided as the one ormore active components. In some embodiments, including may constitutecomprising. In some embodiments, including may constitute comprising, inaddition to one or more other components, in which said one or moreother components do not, on their own, provide bacteriostatic and/orbactericidal activities. In some embodiments, including may constitutecomprising, in addition to one or more active components, in which oneor more of said one or more active components on their own may providesome bacteriostatic and/or bactericidal activity. In some embodiments,including may constitute consisting essentially of, in which the one ormore active components consists essentially of12-(7-nitrobenzofurazan-4-ylamino) dodecanoic acid. In some embodiments,including may constitute consisting essentially of, in which the one ormore active components consists essentially of any one or more of theone or more 12-(7-nitrobenzofurazan-4-ylamino) dodecanoic acid, salt,analog, structural and/or functional alternative, and/or structuraland/or functional equivalent, or any combination thereof.

In one or more embodiments, a medium chain fatty acid derivativecomposition is described herein, the composition including one or moreactive components, the one or more active components being or includingat least 4-nitrophenyl dodecanoate. Similarly, an analog thereof, aswell as one or more structural and/or functional alternatives, and/orone or more structural and/or functional equivalents may be utilized(not shown). A combination of said one or more 4-nitrophenyldodecanoate, salt, analog, structural and/or functional alternative,and/or structural and/or functional equivalent, in one or more forms,may also be provided as the one or more active components. In someembodiments, including may constitute comprising. In some embodiments,including may constitute comprising, in addition to one or more othercomponents, in which said one or more other components do not, on theirown, provide bacteriostatic and/or bactericidal activities. In someembodiments, including may constitute comprising, in addition to one ormore active components, in which one or more of said one or more activecomponents on their own may provide some bacteriostatic and/orbactericidal activity. In some embodiments, including may constituteconsisting essentially of, in which the one or more active componentsconsists essentially of 4-nitrophenyl dodecanoate. In some embodiments,including may constitute consisting essentially of, in which the one ormore active components consists essentially of any one or more of theone or more 4-nitrophenyl dodecanoate, salt, analog, structural and/orfunctional alternative, and/or structural and/or functional equivalent,or any combination thereof.

In one or more embodiments, a medium chain fatty acid derivativecomposition is described herein, the composition including one or moreactive components, the one or more active components being or includingat least 1-lauroyl-rac-glycerol. Similarly, an analog thereof, as wellas one or more structural and/or functional alternatives, and/or one ormore structural and/or functional equivalents may be utilized (notshown). A combination of said one or more 1-lauroyl-rac-glycerol, salt,analog, structural and/or functional alternative, and/or structuraland/or functional equivalent, in one or more forms, may also be providedas the one or more active components. In some embodiments, including mayconstitute comprising. In some embodiments, including may constitutecomprising, in addition to one or more other components, in which saidone or more other components do not, on their own, providebacteriostatic and/or bactericidal activities. In some embodiments,including may constitute comprising, in addition to one or more activecomponents, in which one or more of said one or more active componentson their own may provide some bacteriostatic and/or bactericidalactivity. In some embodiments, including may constitute consistingessentially of, in which the one or more active components consistsessentially of 1-lauroyl-rac-glycerol. In some embodiments, includingmay constitute consisting essentially of, in which the one or moreactive components consists essentially of any one or more of the one ormore 1-lauroyl-rac-glycerol, salt, analog, structural and/or functionalalternative, and/or structural and/or functional equivalent, or anycombination thereof.

In one or more embodiments, a medium chain fatty acid derivativecomposition is described herein, the composition including one or moreactive components, the one or more active components being or includingat least 3-oxo-N-(2-oxocyclohexyl) dodecanamide. Similarly, an analogthereof, as well as one or more structural and/or functionalalternatives, and/or one or more structural and/or functionalequivalents may be utilized (not shown). A combination of said one ormore 3-oxo-N-(2-oxocyclohexyl) dodecanamide, analog, structural and/orfunctional alternative, and/or structural and/or functional equivalent,in one or more forms, may also be provided as the one or more activecomponents. In some embodiments, including may constitute comprising. Insome embodiments, including may constitute comprising, in addition toone or more other components, in which said one or more other componentsdo not, on their own, provide bacteriostatic and/or bactericidalactivities. In some embodiments, including may constitute comprising, inaddition to one or more active components, in which one or more of saidone or more active components on their own may provide somebacteriostatic and/or bactericidal activity. In some embodiments,including may constitute consisting essentially of, in which the one ormore active component consists essentially of 3-oxo-N-(2-oxocyclohexyl)dodecanamide. In some embodiments, including may constitute consistingessentially of, in which the one or more active components consistsessentially of any one or more of the one or more3-oxo-N-(2-oxocyclohexyl) dodecanamide, analog, structural and/orfunctional alternative, and/or structural and/or functional equivalent,or any combination thereof.

In one or more embodiments, a medium chain fatty acid derivativecomposition is described herein, the composition including one or moreactive components, the one or more active components being or includingat least butyl laurate (butyl dodecanoate). Similarly, an analogthereof, as well as one or more structural and/or functionalalternatives, and/or one or more structural and/or functionalequivalents may be utilized (not shown; e.g., isobutyl dodecanoate). Acombination of said one or more butyl laurate, salt, analog, structuraland/or functional alternative, and/or structural and/or functionalequivalent, in one or more forms, may also be provided as the one ormore active components. In some embodiments, including may constitutecomprising. In some embodiments, including may constitute comprising, inaddition to one or more other components, in which said one or moreother components do not, on their own, provide bacteriostatic and/orbactericidal activities. In some embodiments, including may constitutecomprising, in addition to one or more active components, in which oneor more of said one or more active components on their own may providesome bacteriostatic and/or bactericidal activity. In some embodiments,including may constitute consisting essentially of, in which the one ormore active components consists essentially of butyl laurate. In someembodiments, including may constitute consisting essentially of, inwhich the one or more active components consists essentially of any oneor more of the one or more butyl laurate, salt, analog, structuraland/or functional alternative, and/or structural and/or functionalequivalent, or any combination thereof.

In one or more embodiments, a medium chain fatty acid derivativecomposition is described herein, the composition including one or moreactive components, the one or more active components being or includingat least benzyl laurate. Similarly, an analog thereof, salt, as well asone or more structural and/or functional alternatives, and/or one ormore structural and/or functional equivalents may be utilized (notshown). A combination of said one or more benzyl laurate, salt, analog,structural and/or functional alternative, and/or structural and/orfunctional equivalent, in one or more forms, may also be provided as theone or more active components. In some embodiments, including mayconstitute comprising. In some embodiments, including may constitutecomprising, in addition to one or more other components, in which saidone or more other components do not, on their own, providebacteriostatic and/or bactericidal activities. In some embodiments,including may constitute comprising, in addition to one or more activecomponents, in which one or more of said one or more active componentson their own may provide some bacteriostatic and/or bactericidalactivity. In some embodiments, including may constitute consistingessentially of, in which the one or more active components consistsessentially of benzyl laurate. In some embodiments, including mayconstitute consisting essentially of, in which the one or more activecomponents consists essentially of any one or more of the one or morebenzyl laurate, salt, analog, structural and/or functional alternative,and/or structural and/or functional equivalent, or any combinationthereof.

In one or more embodiments, a medium chain fatty acid derivativecomposition is described herein, the composition including one or moreactive components, the one or more active components being or includingat least isoamyl laurate. Similarly, an analog thereof, salt, as well asone or more structural and/or functional alternatives, and/or one ormore structural and/or functional equivalents may be utilized (notshown). A combination of said one or more isoamyl laurate, salt, analog,structural and/or functional alternative, and/or structural and/orfunctional equivalent, in one or more forms, may also be provided as theone or more active components. In some embodiments, including mayconstitute comprising. In some embodiments, including may constitutecomprising, in addition to one or more other components, in which saidone or more other components do not, on their own, providebacteriostatic and/or bactericidal activities. In some embodiments,including may constitute comprising, in addition to one or more activecomponents, in which one or more of said one or more active componentson their own may provide some bacteriostatic and/or bactericidalactivity. In some embodiments, including may constitute consistingessentially of, in which the one or more active components consistsessentially of isoamyl laurate. In some embodiments, including mayconstitute consisting essentially of, in which the one or more activecomponents consists essentially of any one or more of the one or moreisoamyl laurate, salt, analog, structural and/or functional alternative,and/or structural and/or functional equivalent, or any combinationthereof.

In one or more embodiments, a medium chain fatty acid derivativecomposition is described herein, the composition including one or moreactive components, the one or more active components being or includingat least monolaurin. Similarly, an analog thereof, as well as one ormore structural and/or functional alternatives, and/or one or morestructural and/or functional equivalents may be utilized (not shown). Acombination of said one or more monolaurin, salt, analog, structuraland/or functional alternative, and/or structural and/or functionalequivalent, in one or more forms, may also be provided as the one ormore active components. In some embodiments, including may constitutecomprising. In some embodiments, including may constitute comprising, inaddition to one or more other components, in which said one or moreother components do not, on their own, provide bacteriostatic and/orbactericidal activities. In some embodiments, including may constitutecomprising, in addition to one or more active components, in which oneor more of said one or more active components on their own may providesome bacteriostatic and/or bactericidal activity. In some embodiments,including may constitute consisting essentially of, in which the one ormore active component consists essentially of monolaurin. In someembodiments, including may constitute consisting essentially of, inwhich the one or more active components consists essentially of any oneor more of the one or more monolaurin, salt, analog, structural and/orfunctional alternative, and/or structural and/or functional equivalent,or any combination thereof.

In one or more embodiments, a medium chain fatty acid derivativecomposition is described herein, the composition including one or moreactive components, the one or more active components being or includingat least isopropyl laurate. Similarly, an analog thereof, as well as oneor more structural and/or functional alternatives, and/or one or morestructural and/or functional equivalents may be utilized (not shown). Acombination of said one or more isopropyl laurate, salt, analog,structural and/or functional alternative, and/or structural and/orfunctional equivalent, in one or more forms, may also be provided as theone or more active components. In some embodiments, including mayconstitute comprising. In some embodiments, including may constitutecomprising, in addition to one or more other components, in which saidone or more other components do not, on their own, providebacteriostatic and/or bactericidal activities. In some embodiments,including may constitute comprising, in addition to one or more activecomponents, in which one or more of said one or more active componentson their own may provide some bacteriostatic and/or bactericidalactivity. In some embodiments, including may constitute consistingessentially of, in which the one or more active component consistsessentially of isopropyl laurate. In some embodiments, including mayconstitute consisting essentially of, in which the one or more activecomponents consists essentially of any one or more of the one or moreisopropyl laurate, salt, analog, structural and/or functionalalternative, and/or structural and/or functional equivalent, or anycombination thereof.

In one or more embodiments, a medium chain fatty acid derivativecomposition is described herein, the composition including one or moreactive components, the one or more active components being or includingat least pentyl laurate. Similarly, an analog thereof, as well as one ormore structural and/or functional alternatives, and/or one or morestructural and/or functional equivalents may be utilized (not shown). Acombination of said one or more pentyl laurate, salt, analog, structuraland/or functional alternative, and/or structural and/or functionalequivalent, in one or more forms, may also be provided as the one ormore active components. In some embodiments, including may constitutecomprising. In some embodiments, including may constitute comprising, inaddition to one or more other components, in which said one or moreother components do not, on their own, provide bacteriostatic and/orbactericidal activities. In some embodiments, including may constitutecomprising, in addition to one or more active components, in which oneor more of said one or more active components on their own may providesome bacteriostatic and/or bactericidal activity. In some embodiments,including may constitute consisting essentially of, in which the one ormore active component consists essentially of pentyl laurate. In someembodiments, including may constitute consisting essentially of, inwhich the one or more active components consists essentially of any oneor more of the one or more pentyl laurate, salt, analog, structuraland/or functional alternative, and/or structural and/or functionalequivalent, or any combination thereof.

In one or more embodiments, a medium chain fatty acid derivativecomposition is described herein, the composition including one or moreactive components, the one or more active components being or includingat least hexyl laurate. Similarly, an analog thereof, as well as one ormore structural and/or functional alternatives, and/or one or morestructural and/or functional equivalents may be utilized (not shown). Acombination of said one or more hexyl laurate, salt, analog, structuraland/or functional alternative, and/or structural and/or functionalequivalent, in one or more forms, may also be provided as the one ormore active components. In some embodiments, including may constitutecomprising. In some embodiments, including may constitute comprising, inaddition to one or more other components, in which said one or moreother components do not, on their own, provide bacteriostatic and/orbactericidal activities. In some embodiments, including may constitutecomprising, in addition to one or more active components, in which oneor more of said one or more active components on their own may providesome bacteriostatic and/or bactericidal activity. In some embodiments,including may constitute consisting essentially of, in which the one ormore active components consists essentially of hexyl laurate. In someembodiments, including may constitute consisting essentially of, inwhich the one or more active components consists essentially of any oneor more of the one or more hexyl laurate, salt, analog, structuraland/or functional alternative, and/or structural and/or functionalequivalent, or any combination thereof.

In one or more embodiments, a composition that is or includes at leastone or more active components as described above, which is or includesone or more medium chain fatty acid as described herein and/or one ormore medium chain fatty acid derivatives as described herein, ismiscible with water, and in such a miscible state does not demonstrateinhibitory activity against tested Gram-positive bacteria (e.g., S.aureus) or tested gram-negative bacteria (e.g., E. coli), asdemonstrated in a standard broth microdilution test. For example,12-aminododecanoic acid that is miscible with water does not, in themiscible state, demonstrate inhibitory activity against one or moreGram-positive bacteria (e.g., S. aureus) or against one or moreGram-negative bacteria (e.g., E. coli), as demonstrated in the standardbroth microdilution test. Similarly, 12-amino-1-dodecanoic acid methylester that is miscible with water does not, in the miscible state,demonstrate inhibitory activity against tested Gram-positive bacteria(e.g., S. aureus) or against tested Gram-negative bacteria (e.g., E.coli), when processed and evaluated similarly in the standard brothmicrodilution assay. In one or more embodiments, a composition includingone or more active components, such as, for example, one of12-aminododecanoic acid or 12-amino-1-dodecanoic acid methyl ester, eachmiscible with water, generally, as so prepared, does not demonstrateinhibitory activity against Gram-positive bacteria or Gram-negativebacteria.

In one or more embodiments, an active component, which is or includesone or more medium chain fatty acid as described herein and/or one ormore medium chain fatty acid derivatives as described herein, issuspended in an organic solvent, such as chloroform, and/or an organicsolvent having a tetrahedral molecular geometry. The organic solvent ispreferably evaporatable. Such an active component when suspended in anevaporatable organic solvent forms small particles (e.g.,nanoparticles), which remain particles after evaporation of saidevaporatable organic solvent. In one or more embodiments, when soprepared, the particulated or particle-containing composition does not,after evaporation of said organic solvent, demonstrate inhibitoryactivity against tested Gram-positive bacteria (e.g., S. aureus) ortested Gram-negative bacteria (e.g., E. coli), when evaluated in astandard broth microdilution assay. In some embodiments, a compositionincluding one or more active components, such as, for example, one of12-aminododecanoic acid or 12-amino-1-dodecanoic acid methyl ester,after evaporation of said organic solvent, as so prepared, maydemonstrate minimal, but only very weak, inhibitory activity against oneor more Gram-positive bacteria. Generally, with such a preparation,there is no observable inhibitory activity against Gram-negativebacteria.

In one or more embodiments, in preparation for a composition describedherein, one or more active components, such as a medium chain fatty aciddescribed herein, and/or a medium chain fatty acid derivative describedherein, is combined with lecithin (with or without cholesterol), andfurther combined and/or coated with chitosan, followed by anotherprocess step, such as sonicating. In one or more embodiments, thefurther process step may include filtering. In one or more embodiments,the further process step may include sonicating, and filtering (e.g.,filter sterilizing) after sonicating. When so prepared, a compositionmay be particulated or contain small particles. In one or moreembodiments, a particulated or particle-containing composition is adirect-acting small molecule agent. In one or more embodiments, saidcomposition as a direct-acting small molecule agent is in such a form asto be internalized. In one or more embodiments, said composition as adirect-acting small molecule agent is active against one or bothGram-positive bacteria, particularly pathogenic bacteria (e.g., S.aureus, S. epidermidis, S. pneumoniae, C. difficile, Mycobacterium spp.,Group A Streptococcus, Group B Streptococcus, including drug resistantstrains), and Gram-negative bacteria, particularly pathogenic bacteria(e.g., E. coli, A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa, Enterobacteriaceae,Campylobacter, Shigella spp., including drug resistant strains) andyeast (e.g., Candida).

In one or more embodiments, when so prepared as described above, acomposition comprising an active component, such as at least one of12-amino-1-dodecanoic acid methyl ester, 12-amino-1-dodecanoic acid,sucrose monolaurate, 12-(7-nitrobenzofurazan-4-ylamino) dodecanoic acid,4-nitrophenyl dodecanoate, 1-lauroyl-rac-glycerol,3-oxo-N-(2-oxocyclohexyl) dodecanamide, lauric acid, butyl laurate,benzyl laurate, isoamyl laurate, or monolaurin, and in which the mixturecomprising the active component, lecithin, and/or chitosan are at a pHof pH 5 to pH 7 or a pH of about pH 5 to pH 7, will exhibit goodinhibitory activity and good growth inhibition of one or moreGram-positive bacteria, particularly pathogenic bacteria (e.g., S.aureus, S. epidermidis, S. pneumoniae, C. difficile, Mycobacterium spp.,Group A Streptococcus, Group B Streptococcus, including drug resistantstrains). The good inhibitory activity and good growth inhibitionagainst Gram-positive bacteria is greater, and generally significantlygreater than the extremely weak or negligible activity associated with acomposition having the same active component that was instead preparedwith simply an evaporatable organic solvent, or when the activecomponent was used alone.

In one or more embodiments, when charge distribution of the particulatedor particle-containing compositions are altered, such as when: (a) inpreparation, the mixture comprising the active component, lecithin,and/or chitosan are at an alkaline pH (e.g., pH 9); or (b) when, inpreparation, such a mixture is at an acidic or neutral pH and includes acertain chemical agent in the mixture that imparts a positive charge tothe surface of the particulated or particle-containing composition (suchas glycol chitosan), there is a rather unexpected finding, in which oneor more of the active components, when so treated, and formed in aparticulated or particle-containing composition, exhibit a more broadspectrum activity, showing good antimicrobial activity against bothGram-positive bacteria, particularly pathogenic bacteria, as well asGram-negative bacteria, particularly pathogenic bacteria. Thisunexpected phenomenon is generally found with certain preparationconditions, as outlined herein (both above and later below), and withsome of the one or more active components, including with at least12-aminododecanoic acid, 12-amino-1-dodecanoic acid, and sucrosemonolaurate, and their suitable analogs considered structural and/orfunctional alternatives, and/or structural and/or functionalequivalents.

In one or more embodiments, a particulated or particle-containingcomposition, as described herein, which includes at least the one ormore active components, including one or more medium chain fatty acid asdescribed herein and/or one or more medium chain fatty acid derivativesas described herein, may be manipulated to improve inhibitory activityagainst Gram-positive bacteria, including Gram-positive pathogenicbacteria, and drug resistant strains thereof. For this, the particulatedcomposition will include at least one of an active component that has 12carbon atoms and at least one methyl and/or ethyl side chain.

In one or more embodiments, a particulated or particle-containingcomposition (which, when used herein, may also be one or moreparticulated or particle-containing compositions), as described herein,which includes at least the one or more active components, including oneor more medium chain fatty acid derivatives as described herein, may befurther manipulated to impart inhibitory activity against bothGram-positive (including Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria, and drugresistant strains thereof) as well as Gram-negative bacteria (includingGram-negative pathogenic bacteria, and drug resistant strains thereof.For this broad-spectrum activity, the particulated orparticle-containing composition will, unexpectedly, have to include aplurality of characteristics, that were not previously apparent. Forexample, the one or more active components will need to be positivelycharged, and will be an active component with a 12-carbon atom backbonethat is hydrophobic (generally being more strongly hydrophobic, with aLog P value that is less than 4). When such an active component furthercomprises at least one methyl and/or ethyl side chain, its overallinhibitory activity, may also increase. A positive charge provided tothe particulated composition may be delivered by including, in thepreparation for the particulated composition, more than one of thefollowing: (i) a positively charged carrier, (ii) a positively chargedchitosan, (iii) one or more active components in which at least one ofthe active components has a 12-carbon atom backbone, (iv) at least onemethyl and/or ethyl side chain on the one or more active components(e.g., on the 12-carbon atom backbone), (v) one or more activecomponents in which at least one of the one or more active components isstrongly hydrophobic (e.g., generally, associated with a Log P valuethat is less than 4). In some embodiments, a positive charge isconferred by at least (ii), (iii), and (v). In some embodiments, apositive charge is conferred by at least (i), (iii), and (v). Examplesof suitable and representative active components that meet the criteriaof (iii), (iv), and/or (v) are 12-aminododecanoic acid,12-amino-1-dodecanoic acid methyl ester, and sucrose monolaurate. Hence,in one or more embodiments, more than one composition as describedherein, which includes one or more active components described herein,which includes one or more medium chain fatty acid as described hereinand/or one or more medium chain fatty acid derivatives as describedherein, when used alone or in combination, may be manipulated to conferadditional inhibitory activity against one or more Gram-negativebacteria.

In one or more embodiments, more than one composition as describedherein, which includes one or more active components, including one ormore medium chain fatty acid as described herein and/or one or moremedium chain fatty acid derivatives as described herein, and whenprepared as described herein (particulated and/or not particulated) toimpart inhibitory activity against one or more pathogens, may beutilized and/or harnessed, alone or in combination, as a direct acting,small molecule agent, with a good safety profile. Generally, any of theone or more described compositions, when provided alone or incombination with a similar composition having one or more activecomponents described herein, will cause instability of a targetedpathogen (e.g., membrane instability, such as decreased fluidity, and/ordecreased membrane function) and/or will inhibit growth of the targetedpathogen.

The described composition, alone or in combination with a similarcomposition having a sufficient amount of one or more active components,may be further provided to a subject as an antimicrobial. The sufficientamount of the one or more active components in the antimicrobial may besufficient for bacteriostatic activity. The sufficient amount of the oneor more active components in the antimicrobial may be sufficient forbactericidal activity. The sufficient amount of the one or more activecomponents in the antimicrobial may be for prophylactic use. Thesufficient amount of the one or more active components in theantimicrobial may be for treatment against one or more susceptiblepathogens. The sufficient amount of the one or more active components inthe antimicrobial may be for treatment against one or more susceptibleand antibiotic-resistant pathogens, including one or more susceptibleand antibiotic-resistant pathogens identified by the WHO Global PriorityList. Any of the described compositions as direct-acting, small moleculeagents, alone or in combination with a similar composition having one ormore active components, and when in use, either with or without anotheragent (one not containing the composition described herein), may beprovided in one or more suitable, safe, and effective formulations, suchas for topical use and/or for internal use. When for internal use, thedescribed composition may be formulated for oral ingestion. When forinternal use, the described composition may be formulated for injection.When for internal use, the described composition may be formulated forinhalation. When prepared and/or when for use, the one or more describedactive components and/or described compositions may have GRAS status.

In one or more embodiments, described herein is a composition forbacteriostatic action against at least one of one or more Gram-positivebacteria and/or one or more Gram-negative bacteria, the compositioncomprising at least one of a medium chain fatty acid, which, in someinstances is lauric acid, and/or a medium chain fatty acid derivative,which, in some instances may be referred to as a lauric acid derivative.When such a composition comprises a lauric acid derivative, this may beselected from, but is not limited to, one or more of 12-aminododecanoicacid, 12-amino-1-dodecanoic acid methyl ester, sucrose monolaurate,12-(7-nitrobenzofurazan-4-ylamino) dodecanoic acid, 4-nitrophenyldodecanoate, 1-lauroyl-rac-glycerol, 3-oxo-N-(2-oxocyclohexyl)dodecanamide, butyl laurate, benzyl laurate, isoamyl laurate,monolaurin, isopropyl laurate, pentyl laurate, hexyl laurate (orsuitable analog, generally a structural and/or functional alternative,and/or structural and/or functional equivalent). In some embodiments, acomposition is for bacteriostatic action against at least oneGram-positive bacteria, and at least one Gram-negative bacteria, thecomposition comprising a medium chain fatty acid derivative, sometimesreferred to as a lauric acid derivative. Such a lauric acid derivativemay be selected from at least one of 12-aminododecanoic acid,12-amino-1-dodecanoic acid methyl ester, and sucrose monolaurate, asrepresentative examples. Such a lauric acid derivative may be selectedfrom one that, when prepared, imparts a positive charge to theparticulated or particle-containing composition, and, as an activecomponent, includes the following characteristics: (a) has a 12-carbonatom backbone; and (b) is strongly hydrophobic (e.g., has a Log P valuethat is less than 4). In addition, or as an alternative, such a lauricacid derivative may have the following characteristics: (a) a 12-carbonatom backbone and at least one methyl and/or ethyl side chain on the12-carbon atom backbone, and (b) is strongly hydrophobic (e.g., has aLog P value that is less than 4).

Any of the described compositions, or direct-acting, small moleculeagents, may further comprise lecithin. Any of the describedcompositions, or direct-acting, small molecule agents, may furthercomprise lecithin and cholesterol. Any of the described compositions, ordirect-acting, small molecule agents, may further comprise lecithin(with or without cholesterol) and a carrier. Any of the describedcompositions, or direct-acting, small molecule agents, may furthercomprise lecithin (with or without cholesterol) and chitosan. In one ormore embodiments, the carrier and/or chitosan may be positively charged(or formulated so by preparing in an alkaline pH, or by impartingpositivity via addition of at least one certain chemical agent, such asdescribed herein).

Any of the described compositions, or direct-acting, small moleculeagents, may further comprise one or more bacteria, such as one or morebacterial species described herein.

Any of the described compositions, or direct-acting, small moleculeagents, when provided as described herein, may include particulates ormay be particulated. The particulates may be or may includenanoparticles.

Any of the described compositions, or direct-acting, small moleculeagents, when provided in a form as described herein, may be or aresuitable for use or are for utilization in a formulation for oraldelivery.

Any of the described compositions, or direct-acting, small moleculeagents, when provided in a form as described herein, may be or aresuitable for use or are for utilization in a formulation for topicaldelivery.

Any of the described compositions, or direct-acting, small moleculeagents, when provided in a form as described herein, may be or aresuitable for use or are for utilization in a formulation for injectionor for injectable delivery.

Any of the described compositions, or direct-acting, small moleculeagents, when provided in a form as described herein, may be or aresuitable for use or are for utilization in a formulation for inhalationor for inhaled delivery.

Any of the described compositions, or direct-acting, small moleculeagents, when provided in a form as described herein, may be or aresuitable for use or are for utilization in a formulation forintramuscular delivery.

Any of the described compositions, or direct-acting, small moleculeagents, when provided in a form as described herein, may be or aresuitable for use or are for utilization in a formulation for intravenousdelivery.

In a composition as described herein, the lauric acid or the one or morelauric acid derivatives is in an amount between about 0.001 wt. % andabout 30 wt. % of the composition, or may be in any suitable range orsufficient range therebetween. In a composition as described herein, thelecithin is in an amount up to about 10 wt. % of the composition, or maybe in any suitable amount or range of amounts therein. In a compositionas described herein, the lecithin may be or is in an amount up to about30 wt. % of the composition, or may be in any suitable amount or rangeof amounts therein. In a composition as described herein, the chitosan(positively charged or not) may be or is in an amount up to about 10 wt.% of the composition, or may be in any suitable amount or range ofamounts therein. The chitosan, in a composition as described herein, maybe or is in an amount up to about 30 wt. % of the composition, or may bein any suitable amount or range of amounts therein.

The composition may be or may comprise particulates. The composition maybe or is sonicated to form particulates. The composition (particulatedor not) may be or is a suspension. The composition (particulated or not)may be or is filtered. The composition may be or is a dry or powderform. The composition may be or is sterilized. The composition mayfurther comprise an excipient, generally an excipient that is at leastpharmaceutically acceptable, and may be an excipient that is at leastpharmaceutically acceptable for internal delivery of the composition.The excipient may comprise a sufficient amount of one or morepharmaceutically acceptable excipients for suitable delivery of thecomposition.

The compositions described herein may, and generally do, when utilizedon or against one or more susceptible pathogen types or one or moresusceptible pathogen strains, inhibit growth of the one or moresusceptible pathogen types or the one or more susceptible pathogenstrains. The one or more susceptible pathogen types or the one or moresusceptible pathogen strains generally include at least one or moresusceptible Gram-positive bacterial strains. The Gram-positive bacterialstrain may be a pathogenic bacteria, including S. aureus, S.epidermidis, S. pneumoniae, C. difficile, Mycobacterium spp., Group AStreptococcus, Group B Streptococcus. The Gram-positive bacterial strainmay be a pathogenic bacteria that is drug resistant (e.g.,methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin resistantStaphylococcus aureus). The one or more susceptible pathogen types orthe one or more susceptible pathogen strains may also include at leastone or more susceptible Gram-negative bacterial strains. TheGram-negative bacterial strain may be a pathogenic bacteria, includingEnterobacteriaceae, E. coli, A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa,Enterobacteriaceae, Campylobacter, and Shigella spp. The Gram-negativebacterial strain may be a pathogenic bacteria that is drug resistant(e.g., carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii,carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, carbapenem-resistantEnterobacteriaceae, cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae,fluoroquinolone-resistant Campylobacter, fluoroquinolone-resistantSalmonella spp., fluoroquinolone-resistant Shigella spp.). The one ormore susceptible pathogen types or the one or more susceptible pathogenstrains may also include yeast (e.g., Candida). The composition may beprovided for exposure to (or with) the one or more susceptible pathogentypes or the one or more susceptible pathogen strains. When provided,the composition may be provided serially. When provided, the compositionmay be provided at an inhibitory concentration (inhibitory with respectto at least one of the one or more susceptible pathogen types and/or theone or more susceptible pathogen strains). When provided, thecomposition may be provided below an inhibitory concentration(sub-inhibitory with respect to the one or more susceptible pathogentypes and/or the one or more susceptible pathogen strains). Whenprovided, the composition may be provided for bacteriostatic activity.When provided, the composition may be provided for bactericidalactivity.

In one or more embodiments is a method of making a composition describedherein, such a composition will have bacteriostatic action against oneor more susceptible pathogen types or the one or more susceptiblepathogen strains. Such a composition may have bactericidal activityagainst the one or more susceptible pathogen types or the one or moresusceptible pathogen strains. The one or more susceptible pathogen typesor the one or more susceptible pathogen strains generally include atleast one or more susceptible Gram-positive bacterial strains, includingS. aureus, S. epidermidis, S. pneumoniae, C. difficile, Mycobacteriumspp., Group A Streptococcus, and Group B Streptococcus. The one or moresusceptible pathogen types or the one or more susceptible pathogenstrains may include one or more susceptible Gram-positive bacterialstrains and/or one or more susceptible Gram-negative bacterial strains,in which the one or more susceptible Gram-negative bacterial strainsinclude Enterobacteriaceae, E. coli, A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa,Enterobacteriaceae, Campylobacter, and Shigella spp. The method maycomprise suspending with an organic solvent, such as a low VOC solvent,at least one of the one or more medium chain fatty acid (lauric acid)and/or at least one of the one or more medium chain fatty acidderivatives as described herein, to form a suspension. The lauric acidderivative is selected from at least one of 12-aminododecanoic acid,12-amino-1-dodecanoic acid methyl ester, sucrose monolaurate,12-(7-nitrobenzofurazan-4-ylamino) dodecanoic acid, 4-nitrophenyldodecanoate, 1-lauroyl-rac-glycerol, 3-oxo-N-(2-oxocyclohexyl)dodecanamide, butyl laurate, benzyl laurate, isoamyl laurate,monolaurin, isopropyl laurate, pentyl laurate, and hexyl laurate (orsuitable analog, generally a structural and/or functional alternative,and/or structural and/or functional equivalent). The solvent may bechloroform. The method may further comprises mixing the suspension withwater. The method may further comprise combining the suspension with alecithin. The lecithin may be in a solution or mixture. The lecithinsolution or mixture may be an acidic solution or mixture. The lecithinsolution or mixture may be a neutral solution or mixture. The lecithinsolution or mixture may be an alkaline solution or mixture. The methodmay further comprise including cholesterol to the suspension with thelecithin. In some embodiments, the method may further comprise combiningthe suspension with the lecithin (and with or without the cholesterol)with a carrier or chitosan. The carrier or chitosan may be in a solutionor mixture. The carrier or chitosan solution or mixture may be an acidicsolution or mixture. The carrier or chitosan solution or mixture may bea neutral solution or mixture. The carrier or chitosan solution ormixture may be an alkaline solution or mixture. In some embodiments, thecarrier or chitosan solution or mixture may be the same as the lecithinsolution or mixture. The carrier or the chitosan may be positivelycharged. In addition, or as an alternative, a chemical agent imparting apositive charge to the carrier or chitosan may be included. The methodfurther comprises or may further comprise sonicating the suspension inthe solution or mixture with the lecithin (with or without thecholesterol, with or without the carrier or chitosan, with or withoutthe chemical agent imparting the positive charge to the carrier orchitosan). The method further comprises or may further comprisefiltering after sonicating. The method may comprise filtering withoutsonicating. With sonicating (and with or without filtering), the methodprovides a composition having or comprising small particles. The smallparticles may be or may include nanoparticles. With any of the describedmethods, a composition prepared by any of the described compositions maybe provided in a formulation, and may be suitable for use as theformulation. The formulation may comprise one or more excipients,fillers, and the like, as is known in the art, in which the one or moreexcipients, fillers, and the like, are each in a sufficient amount, in aform that is pharmaceutically acceptable, and appropriate for the mannerof delivery.

The composition described herein or the formulation described herein maybe prepared in a manner described herein, and suitable for topicaldelivery. The composition described herein or the formulation describedherein may be prepared in a manner described herein, and suitable forinternal use, such as for a subject in need thereof. The compositiondescribed herein or the formulation described herein may be prepared ina manner described herein, and suitable for oral delivery. Thecomposition described herein or the formulation described herein may beprepared in a manner described herein, and suitable for inhaleddelivery. The composition described herein or the formulation describedherein may be prepared in a manner described herein, and suitable forintravenous delivery. The composition described herein or theformulation described herein may be prepared in a manner describedherein, and suitable for intramuscular delivery. The composition or theformulation so prepared as described herein will inhibit growth of theone or more susceptible pathogen type or the one or more susceptiblepathogen strains described herein. The composition or the formulation soprepared as described herein may be provided for exposure to (or with)the one or more susceptible pathogen type or the one or more susceptiblepathogen strain described herein.

When provided in any of the forms described herein, the composition orthe formulation so prepared as described herein, may be providedserially. When provided in any of the forms described herein, thecomposition or the formulation so prepared as described herein, may beprovided at an inhibitory concentration (inhibitory with respect to atleast one, or more than one, of the one or more susceptible pathogentypes and/or the one or more susceptible pathogen strains describedherein). When provided in any of the forms described herein, thecomposition or the formulation so prepared as described herein, may beprovided below an inhibitory concentration (sub-inhibitory with respectto at least one, or more than one, of the one or more susceptiblepathogen types and/or the one or more susceptible pathogen strainsdescribed herein).

With any of the methods described herein, the composition or theformulation described herein that is prepared as described herein, mayinclude or may provide, in at least one form, a direct acting, smallmolecule agent that displays bacteriostatic and/or bactericidal activityagainst one or more susceptible pathogen types or one or moresusceptible pathogen strains. With any of the methods described herein,the composition or the formulation described herein that is prepared asdescribed herein, may include or may provide, in at least one form, adirect acting, small molecule agent that displays inhibitory activityagainst one or more susceptible pathogens, including one or moredrug-resistant pathogens.

These and other embodiments are described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the description provided herein andthe advantages thereof, reference is now made to the brief descriptionof the drawings below, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings and with the description.

FIG. 1 depicts a representative structure of a medium chain fatty acid,lauric acid, with a methyl ester.

FIG. 2 depicts a representative structure of 12-aminododecanoic acid, asdescribed herein.

FIG. 3 depicts a representative structure of 12 amino-1-dodecanoic acidmethyl ester, as described herein.

FIG. 4 depicts a representative structure of sucrose monolaurate, asdescribed herein.

DESCRIPTION OF REPRESENTATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Although making and using various embodiments are discussed in detailbelow, it should be appreciated that as described herein are providedmany inventive concepts that may be embodied in contexts outlined and/orcontemplated herein and/or interpreted or varied by the skilled artisan.Embodiments discussed herein are merely representative and do not limitthe scope of the invention.

Compositions described herein comprise one or more active components,the active component may comprise one or more of a specific derivativeand/or synthetic by-product of a medium chain fatty acid, lauric acid,or may be or include a medium chain fatty acid, lauric acid. Whenprepared in the manner described herein, the lauric acid, or thederivatives and/or synthetic by-products of the medium chain fatty acid,lauric acid, may be utilized internally in a safe and effective mannerfor effective bacteriostatic action and/or bactericidal action againstone or more susceptible pathogens, and in which the more susceptiblepathogens include internal susceptible pathogens. In one or moreembodiments, each specific and/or representative derivative and/orsynthetic by-product of lauric acid, including those embodied hereinand/or as described herein, are provided in a composition, as describedor as embodied herein. The compositions described herein have unexpectedoutcomes, and have been prepared to allow the lauric acid or lauric acidderivative to be provided internally and in a manner that allows, withinternal utilization, internal bacteriostatic and/or bactericidalactivity against susceptible pathogens. In one or more embodiments, whenthe lauric acid, or the derivatives and/or synthetic by-products of themedium chain fatty acid, lauric acid, are so provided in a compositiondescribed herein, the composition was found unexpectedly to preserveactivity of the active component, and, thereby, allowing the compositioncontaining the active component to exhibit improved action or improvedfunction, especially in prevention of growth, which has not been foundby others. In addition or as an alternative, in one or more embodiments,when the lauric acid, or the derivatives and/or synthetic by-products ofthe medium chain fatty acid, lauric acid, are so provided in acomposition described herein, the composition was prepared in a mannerthat unexpectedly preserved activity of the active component, and,thereby, allowed the composition containing the active component toexhibit improved action or improved function, especially in preventionof growth of a susceptible pathogen, which has not been found by others.Such improved action or improved functions described herein show thatthe one or more active components described herein will, when providedinternally, be effective as a bacteriostatic agent, preventing growth ofa susceptible pathogen, and providing bacteriostatic activity betterthan a same active component that is used alone without being preparedin a composition as described herein. Such improved action or improvedfunctions described herein show that the one or more active componentsdescribed herein will, when provided internally, be effective as abactericidal agent, killing at least some of the susceptible pathogen,and providing bactericidal activity better than a same active componentused alone without being prepared in a composition as described herein.For example, each specific derivative and/or synthetic by-product oflauric acid, as described and/or as embodied herein, may be provided ina composition, in a manner as described herein, and when so provided insuch a composition, has bacteriostatic activity against one or moresusceptible target pathogens, which includes one or more internalsusceptible target pathogens, and inhibiting as well as preventinggrowth of the one or more susceptible target pathogens. In someinstances, with such a composition, as described and/or as embodiedherein, there is activity, where no activity was found before. In someinstances, with such a composition, as described and/or as embodiedherein, there is significantly better activity, where only weak activitywas found before. In some embodiments, the one or more susceptibletarget pathogens include at least one or more than one susceptibleGram-positive bacterial strain. In some embodiments, the one or moresusceptible target pathogens are at least one, or more than one,susceptible antibiotic resistant Gram-positive bacterial strain. In someembodiments, the one or more susceptible target pathogens include atleast one, or more than one, susceptible Gram-positive bacterial strainas well as at least one, or more than one, susceptible Gram-negativebacterial strain. In one or more embodiments, some of the specificderivatives and/or synthetic by-products of lauric acid as describedand/or as embodied herein were found, unexpectedly, to be capable of acertain and unique manner of manipulation to directly influence functionand activity of a final composition. In some embodiments, the manner ofmanipulation could increase the inhibitory effect or bacteriostaticactivity of the so-manipulated composition against the at least one ormore than one susceptible Gram-positive bacterial strains. In someembodiments, the manner of manipulation could directly influenceinhibitory or bacteriostatic activity of the so-manipulated compositionand the type of pathogen that is susceptible to the so-manipulatedcomposition, such that more than one type of pathogen becomessusceptible to the so-manipulated composition. These and otherconsiderations are further described below.

In one or more embodiments, the one or more active components, includingone or more medium chain fatty acid as described herein and/or one ormore medium chain fatty acid derivatives, as described herein, ismiscible with water. In one or more embodiments, the one or more activecomponent, including one or more medium chain fatty acid as describedherein and/or one or more medium chain fatty acid derivatives asdescribed herein, is suspended in an organic solvent, such aschloroform, and/or an organic solvent having a tetrahedral moleculargeometry. Generally, with such preparations, and when evaluated furtherin vitro, such as in a microdilution assay against a Gram-positive or aGram-negative pathogen, the one or more active components were noteffective at inhibiting growth of the Gram-positive pathogen or theGram-negative pathogen. As such, the one or more active components werefound, unexpectedly, to require a number of more complicated steps inorder to exhibit selective bacteriostatic activity (and/or bactericidalactivity), and to require certain characteristics and even furthermanipulation in order to exhibit a broad-spectrum activity (e.g.,inhibitory and/or killing activity against at least certainGram-positive bacteria as well as Gram-negative bacterial strains),and/or calculatable and significant improvements in its selectiveactivity (e.g., against Gram-positive bacterial strains). In one or moreembodiments, the manner of manipulation described herein is contrary toprevious findings described by others.

In a first embodiment is described at least an active lauric acidderivative, 12-aminododecanoic acid. In another embodiment is describedat least an active lauric acid derivative, 12-amino-1-dodecanoic acidmethyl ester. In still another embodiment is a combination of at leastthe active lauric acid derivatives, 12-aminododecanoic acid and12-amino-1-dodecanoic acid methyl ester. In yet another embodiment is atleast an active lauric acid derivative, sucrose monolaurate. In stillanother embodiment is a combination of at least two or more of theactive lauric acid derivatives selected from 12-aminododecanoic acid,12-amino-1-dodecanoic acid methyl ester, and sucrose monolaurate. Instill another embodiment is a combination of at least two or more of theactive lauric acid derivatives that include 12-aminododecanoic acid,12-amino-1-dodecanoic acid methyl ester, and sucrose monolaurate. In yetanother embodiment is at least one or more of an active lauric acidderivative, in which the active lauric acid derivative is selected fromone having the following characteristics: (a) a 12-carbon atom (C12)backbone; and (b) considered hydrophobic, e.g., having a Log P valuethat is less than 4. In addition, or as an alternative, the at least oneor more of the lauric acid derivative of any of the above embodimentsmay have the following characteristics: (a) a 12-carbon atom backboneand at least one methyl and/or ethyl side chain on the 12-carbon atombackbone, and (b) considered strongly hydrophobic, e.g., having a Log Pvalue that is less than 4. With each of said above-identifiedembodiments, when the one or more active lauric acid derivative isprepared in at least one composition as described herein, the at leastone composition, when tested with susceptible pathogens, was found toexhibit broad spectrum antimicrobial activity, demonstrating inhibitoryactivity (growth inhibition) against one or more Gram-positive bacterialstrains (e.g., the one or more including one or more of S. aureus, S.epidermidis, S. pneumoniae, C. difficile, Mycobacterium spp., Group AStreptococcus, Group B Streptococcus, including drug resistant strains),as well as inhibitory activity (growth inhibition) against Gram-negativebacteria (e.g., the one or more including one or more ofEnterobacteriaceae, E. coli, A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa,Enterobacteriaceae, Campylobacter, Shigella spp., including drugresistant strains) and yeast (e.g., Candida). The broad-spectrumactivity was unexpected. The broad-spectrum activity was unexpected andwas not found when any one of the above identified active components(consisting of the lauric acid derivative described above) was usedalone and, hence, was not prepared in a composition as further describedherein (data not shown). The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) andbroad-spectrum activity was sufficient to utilize the at least onecomposition in a formulation for internal delivery of the composition.And, with any such composition preparation, and for any suchcompositions prepared therefrom, a formulation for internal deliverywith suitable or sufficient inhibitory activity (growth inhibition)against many, or most, or all Gram-negative bacterial strains will befound.

In a manner of preparation of the one or more compositions describedabove, and in a condition in which such a composition is prepared, inwhich a preparatory mixture comprises at least lecithin (or one or morevariants thereof, with or without cholesterol), and a carrier orchitosan, as well as a suitable active component (or one or moresuitable active components as described above), the composition isprepared in a mixture that is at an alkaline pH (e.g., about pH 9, as anexample). This is contrary to previous findings, in which others havefound fatty acids to provide their best activity in an acidicenvironment. It is further noted that the composition described hereinhave not been previously described. In addition, the compositions asdescribed above then demonstrated the broad-spectrum activity, withinhibitory activity (preventing growth) against susceptibleGram-positive bacterial strains and susceptible Gram-negative bacterialstrains. (See also TABLE 2, in which maximum concentration of eachcomposition tested was 10 mg/ml, and in which testings also included apositive control for inhibitory activity against the testedGram-positive bacterial strain, which included octanoic acid, having 8carbon atoms, and decanoic acid, having 10 carbon atoms). Saidcompositions described herein, when compared to its fatty acid alone(e.g., absent the preparation described herein) exhibited significantlybetter in vitro growth inhibitory activity (not all data shown).

In an alternative manner of preparation of one or more compositionsutilizing one or more active components described above, and to illicitbroad spectrum activity, a preparatory mixture may comprise at leastlecithin (or one or more variants, thereof, with or withoutcholesterol), a carrier or chitosan, as well as a suitable activecomponent (or one or more suitable active components as describedabove), and is not alkaline, and is, instead, at least at a neutral pH(e.g., about pH 7), and in which the preparatory mixture used to preparesuch a composition further comprises a certain chemical agent thatimparts a positive charge to the carrier or the chitosan in thepreparatory mixture. (See, again, TABLE 2). Said compositions, whencompared in vitro to its fatty acid alone (e.g., absent the preparationdescribed herein) exhibited significantly better in vitro growthinhibitory activity (not all data shown). An example of such a chemicalagent that may be utilized in the alternative manner of preparation isglycol. Additional representative chemical agents that may be utilizedinclude but are not limited to polyethylene glycol, acrylate, and achemical prepared in a quaternization process with a quaternary compound(e.g., a cation consisting having a central positively charged atom withfour substituents that are generally, or especially organic groups, suchas alkyl and aryl groups, including but not limited to quaternaryammonium salts). These and other chemical agents suitable of imparting astrong positive charge are contemplated herein.

Without being bound by theory, the above and unexpected findings suggesta hydroxyl dominant environment for synthesis of a composition of theembodiments and active components described above, in order to achieve,when internalized, sufficient inhibitory activity against thesusceptible pathogens and/or the improvements in inhibitory activityagainst the susceptible pathogens. This hydroxyl dominant environment isin the preparatory mixture containing the carrier or chitosan, whichallowed such a composition, when so prepared, to become more active(e.g., exhibiting strong inhibitory activity) against not onlysusceptible Gram-positive bacterial strains, but also againstsusceptible Gram-negative bacterial strains. Without being bound bytheory, the hydroxyl dominant environment is believed to promoteformation of positively charged carrier or chitosan, which when includedin a formed composition containing or comprising particles, will providepositively charged particles. The hydroxyl dominant environment thatpromotes formation of positively charge particles will occur at analkaline pH, such as pH 9. Similarly, positively charged particles arecreated with an innately charged chitosan, in which a certain chemicalagent (e.g., glycol) carries an innate positive charge at a neutral pH(pH 7).

With still further analysis, as is described briefly below, in additionto the hydroxyl dominant environment of said composition, there is, onone or more embodiments, an additional requirement for synthesis of oneor more compositions of the embodiment described above, which includeshaving a suitable active component (or one or more suitable activecomponents) as described above. Having an active component with a12-carbon atom backbone appears necessary for a composition of theembodiment described above to exhibit inhibitory activity against aGram-negative pathogen. (See, e.g., TABLE 2).

TABLE 1 MIC (mg/ml) MIC (mg/ml) for S. epidermis for E. coli (chitosanprep. (chitosan prep. Active lauric acid mixture was at mixture was atderivative pH 5 or at pH 7) pH 5 or at pH 7) 12-aminododecanoic acid 10— (no inhibitory activity) 12-amino-1-dodecanoic 10 — (no inhibitoryactivity) acid methyl ester HCl sucrose monolaurate 10 — (no inhibitoryactivity) octanoic acid 10 — (no inhibitory activity) decanoic acid 10 —(no inhibitory activity)

TABLE 2 MIC (mg/ml) MIC (mg/ml) for E. coli for E. coli (chitosan prep.(chitosan prep. Active lauric acid mixture was mixture was at derivativeat pH 9) pH 7 with glycol) 12-aminododecanoic acid 10 1012-amino-1-dodecanoic 10 0.8 acid methyl ester HCl sucrose monolaurate10 10 octanoic acid — (no inhibitory — (no inhibitory activity)activity) decanoic acid — (no inhibitory — (no inhibitory activity)activity)

In still further embodiments, also referred to herein as a secondembodiment (which does not mean nor imply that there are only twoembodiments, as is clear from the full description provided herein), arestill further, or additional, active components selected from lauricacid, as well as representative active lauric acid derivatives, whichinclude, but are not limited to, at least,12-(7-nitrobenzofurazan-4-ylamino) dodecanoic acid, 4-nitrophenyldodecanoate, 1-lauroyl-rac-glycerol, 3-oxo-N-(2-oxocyclohexyl)dodecanamide, butyl laurate, benzyl laurate, isoamyl laurate,monolaurin, isopropyl laurate, pentyl laurate, hexyl laurate, as well asany combination of lauric acid and/or such additional active lauric acidderivatives (as well as a suitable analog or salt form, represented as astructural and/or functional alternative, and/or structural and/orfunctional equivalent, or any combination thereof). Compositionsprepared with one or more of these additional active components of thesecond embodiment, and when tested in vitro, were found to exhibitselective activity, with good inhibitory (growth inhibition) activityagainst only susceptible Gram-positive pathogens, the susceptibleGram-positive pathogens including one or more of S. aureus, S.epidermidis, S. pneumoniae, C. difficile, Mycobacterium spp., Group AStreptococcus, and Group B Streptococcus (including drug resistantstrains). Moreover, as exemplified in TABLES 1, 2, 3, compositionsprepared with one or more of these additional active components of thesecond embodiment, and when tested in vitro, exhibited, in general, noinhibitory activity against a representative Gram-negative bacterialpathogen. (See TABLES 1, 2, 3, in which maximum concentration of eachcomposition tested was 10 mg/ml against the tested representativeGram-positive bacteria, and in which testings also included positivecontrols, octanoic acid, having 8 carbon atoms, and decanoic acid,having 10 carbon atoms; prep.=preparation). Such findings wereunexpected, and not found when any one of the additional activecomponents was used alone and, hence, when not prepared in a compositionas described (data not shown). The minimal inhibitory concentration(MIC) and selective activity was sufficient to utilize any one or moreof the additional active components, when prepared in a composition andprovided in a formulation, for internal delivery of the composition.This does not mean that combinations of active components (e.g., fromthe earlier embodiments, and/or from the second embodiment) cannot becombined together, either in a single composition, or in a plurality ofcompositions, and utilized internally, such as in a subject, or in asubject in need thereof. Any combination of more than one activecomponent described herein is contemplated in a composition, and asuitable or sufficient inhibitory activity (e.g., growth inhibition)will be found against the susceptible pathogens when the composition,formed as described herein, is internalized.

TABLE 3 MIC (mg/ml) MIC (mg/ml) S. epidermis E. coli MIC (mg/ml)(chitosan (chitosan E. coli prep. mixture prep. mixture (chitosan Activelauric acid at pH 5 or at pH 5 or prep. mixture derivative at pH 7) atpH 7) at pH 9) 12-(7-nitrobenzo- 10 — — furazan-4-ylamino) dodecanoicacid 4-nitrophenyl 10 — — dodecanoate 1-lauroyl-rac- 10 — — glycerol3-oxo-N-(2- 10 — — oxocyclohexyl) dodecanamide butyl laurate 10 — —benzyl laurate 10 — — isoamyl laurate 10 — — monolaurin 10 — — isopropyllaurate 10 — — pentyl laurate 10 — — hexyl laurate 10 — — octanoic acid10 — — decanoic acid 10 — —

In a manner of manipulation in which a composition of a secondembodiment is prepared, in a condition in which a preparatory mixturecontains at least lecithin (with or without cholesterol), and a carrieror chitosan, and further includes a suitable additional active component(or one or more suitable additional active components), the preparatorymixture is acidic or neutral pH (e.g., about pH 5 and about pH 7, asexamples, or between about pH 5 and about pH 7, as an example). As shownin TABLES 1, 2, 3, said compositions of the second embodimentdemonstrated selective activity, with inhibitory activity against onlysusceptible representative Gram-positive bacterial strains, andexhibiting, in general, no inhibitory activity against testedrepresentative Gram-negative bacterial strains. The selective natureassociated with the compositions of the second embodiment was foundregardless of whether synthesis of the composition (e.g., in thepreparatory mixture for preparation of a composition of the secondembodiment) was at an acidic, neutral, or alkaline pH. Without beingbound by theory, it is believed that a lack of inhibitory activityagainst Gram-negative bacterial strains as exhibited in compositions ofthe second embodiment, those containing the one or more additionalactive components (see above), corresponds with the degree ofhydrophobicity of these one or more additional active component (lauricacid, or the active lauric acid derivative). It is understood in the artthat the degree of molecular hydrophobicity (or lipophilicity) isgenerally measured as a logarithmic value of the octanol-water partitioncoefficient P. The logarithmic value is referred to as log P.

Calculations for the log P value for the various representative activelauric acid derivatives described herein were made and are provided inTABLE 4, in which a lower log P values corresponds with an increaseddegree of molecular hydrophobicity.

TABLE 4 Number of carbon atoms in fatty Log P Active lauric acidderivative acid backbone (hydrophobicity) 12-aminododecanoic acid 123.08 12-amino-1-dodecanoic acid 12 3.54 methyl ester HCl sucrosemonolaurate 12 2.12 12-(7-nitrobenzofurazan-4-ylamino) 12 5.25dodecanoic acid 4-nitrophenyl dodecanoate 12 6.8 1-lauroyl-rac-glycerol12 4.04 butyl laurate 12 7.09 benzyl laurate 12 7.24 isoamyl laurate 127.43 monolaurin 12 4.27 isopropyl laurate 12 6.37 pentyl laurate 12 7.62hexyl laurate 12 8.15 octanoic acid 8 2.9 decanoic acid 10 3.98

As depicted in TABLE 4, active lauric acid derivatives that could (andcan) be manipulated as described above to shift from selective activity(in which inhibitory activity was against only susceptible Gram-positivebacteria) to broad-spectrum activity (in which inhibitory activity wasagainst both susceptible Gram-positive and susceptible Gram-negativebacteria) are those that have the appropriate number of 12-carbon atomsin the fatty acid backbone, and are more highly hydrophobic, having alog P of less than 4. This is evidenced by finding that decanoic acid,having a log P of less than 4 but having 10 carbon atoms, was not found,when prepared as described herein into particulated orparticle-containing compositions, to exhibit inhibitory activity againstrepresentative Gram-negative bacteria, even when manipulated to impartpositivity (e.g., when prepared with the addition of a certain chemicalagent that imparts a positive charge to the chitosan at neutral pH, orwhen prepared at a pH of 9). (See, TABLES 2 and 4). Similarly, octanoicacid, also having a log P of less than 4 and having only 8 carbon atoms,was also not found to exhibit inhibitory activity against representativeGram-negative bacteria, when prepared as described herein intoparticulated or particle-containing compositions, even when so preparedby manipulation to impart positivity (e.g., when prepared with theaddition of a certain chemical agent that imparts a positive charge tothe chitosan at neutral pH, or when prepared at a pH of 9). (See, TABLES2 and 4).

For productive processing of any one or more active components,including one or more medium chain fatty acid as described herein(lauric acid) and/or one or more medium chain fatty acid derivatives asdescribed herein, and for forming any of the compositions as describedherein (compositions of the first embodiments and/or compositions of thesecond embodiments), a plurality of unexpected steps are required. Thisincludes combining an active component (or more than one) with any oneof lecithin, lecithin-like components (naturally occurring components),and/or with lecithin products or by-products (phosphatidylethanolamine(PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidic acid (PA),phosphatidylserine (PS), and lysophospholipids, e.g.,lyso-phosphatidylethanolamine (LPE), sphingomyelin (SPM)), and/or bulkyfatty acids, such as cholesterol, or lipids having a chain lengthpredominantly from about C-14 to C-20). In some embodiments, thelecithin (or its variants thereof as described herein), may be furthercombined with at least one bulky fatty acid, such as cholesterol, orlipids having a chain length predominantly from about C-14 to C-20).

The lecithin (or variants thereof as just described, referred tohereinafter as lecithin) should be amphiphilic. The lecithin may includea mixture of naturally occurring phospholipids. The lecithin may includea mixture of naturally occurring phospholipids and/orglycerophospholipids (e.g., PC, PE, PI, and/or PA). In addition, or asan alternative, the lecithin may include bile salts. In addition, or asan alternative, the lecithin may include cholesterol. The lecithin (orvariants thereof as just described) may be in any amount, often betweenabout 0.001 wt. % and about 50 wt. %, based on the total wet weight ofthe composition. The lecithin may be in an amount between about 0.001wt. % and about 20 wt. %, based on the total wet weight of thecomposition. The lecithin may be in an amount between about 0.001 wt. %and about 10 wt. %, based on the total wet weight of the composition.The lecithin may be in an amount between about 0.5 wt. % and about 20wt. %, based on the total wet weight of the composition, or betweenabout 1 wt. % and about 10 wt. %, based on the total wet weight of thecomposition, or between about 1 wt. % and about 20 wt. %, based on thetotal wet weight of the composition, or between about 5 wt. % and about50 wt. %, based on the total wet weight of the composition, or betweenabout 5 wt. % and about 20 wt. %, based on the total wet weight of thecomposition, or between about 10 wt. % and about 20 wt. %, based on thetotal wet weight of the composition, or between about 10 wt. % and about30 wt. %, based on the total wet weight of the composition, or betweenabout 5 wt. % and about 40 wt. %, based on the total wet weight of thecomposition. The lecithin may be predominantly phosphatidylcholine (PC).The lecithin may include predominantly PC, with an additionalphospholipid, lecithin, cholesterol, and/or bile or bile salts (often ina smaller amount). The lecithin may be from any source. The lecithin maybe from a natural source, such as egg lecithin, soy lecithin. Thelecithin may be in a granular form (e.g., L-alpha-lecithin granules).

In many embodiments, prior to the above combining step (with asufficient amount of lecithin, or appropriate variants thereof), any oneor more of the active components described herein (lauric acid and/orlauric acid derivatives, including any utilized for any of the first orsecond embodiments), either together (with some lecithin) or separately(without lecithin), should be initially suspended in an organic solvent,preferably an evaporatable organic solvent, such as chloroform, which,as a suspension, is then mixed with water, and further processed toevaporate the organic solvent. These prior steps are utilized to providea more aqueous solution for the one or more of the lauric acidderivatives, which, in some embodiments, is a preferable state for theone or more lauric acid derivatives, prior to combining with thelecithin (or the sufficient lecithin variants thereof).

In some embodiments, the organic solvent of the prior step is buffered.In some embodiments, this organic solvent has a pH less than 7. In someembodiments, this organic solvent has a pH between about pH 4 and pH 7,or between pH 4 and pH 6. In some embodiments, this organic solvent isacidic and is between about pH 5 and pH 6, or between pH 4 and pH 5. Insome embodiments, this organic solvent is or is between about pH 5 andpH 7. In some embodiments, the pH is above a physiologic pH (above pH7).

The one or more of the active components (lauric acid and/or lauric acidderivatives, including any utilized for any of the first or secondembodiments), when combining with lecithin, and/or when initiallyprocessing to provide in a more aqueous state, may be in a sufficientamount, generally between about 0.001 wt. % and about 50 wt. %, based onthe total weight of the composition.

Generally, after combining any one or more of active components(hereinafter, any one or more of lauric acid and/or one or more lauricacid derivatives, including any utilized for any of the first or secondembodiments) with lecithin in the manner(s) described above, thecombination is provided in a preparatory mixture, when processed, mayform particulates, liposomes, bilayer sheets, and/or micelles. Suchforms may be sterilized. Particles, micelles, liposomes may generallyoccur via self-assembly once the preparatory mixture is prepared asdescribed herein. The processing may include sonication. The processingmay include freeze drying. In some embodiments, sonication may precedesterilization. In addition, or as an alternative, such processed formsmay be filtered. Filtration may precede or follow sonication. Filtrationmay be performed at the same time as sterilization.

In some embodiments, the prepared (processed) forms (particulates,liposomes, bilayer sheets, and/or micelles) may be further coated in acoating step. When preparing, coating may be performed before, during,or after sonication. When preparing, coating may be performed before,during or after sterilization.

The coating may include coating or covering or otherwise applying (e.g.,chemically, ionically, electrostatically, or otherwise) with a coatingmaterial. The coating material may be a non-toxic biopolymer orpolysaccharide. The coating material may be a non-toxic biodegradablebiopolymer, such as an aminopolysaccharide. The biopolymer or coatingmaterial may be a carrier. The coating material or carrier may beacidic, anionic, or modified with one or more carboxyl groups, phosphategroups, sulfur esters, or ester groups to interact or to selectivelyinteract with one or more cell or cell types or target pathogens whenintroduced internally and/or topically. A suitable example of a coatingmaterial is chitosan or chitin. Chitosan may be hydroxylated. Additionalexamples include, but are not limited to, carrageenan, alginate,polylysine, xanthum gum, gellan gum, FucoPol, pullulan. In one or moreembodiments, the coating step provides or involves an adhesion orincorporation of a portion of the coating material or carrier (e.g.,biodegradable biopolymer or aminopolysaccharide) with the prepared formor with the particle. In some embodiments, the coating step may beperformed by blending, dipping, spraying, and/or otherwise adding aprepared biodegradable biopolymer or aminopolysaccharide with theprepared form (e.g., particulates, liposomes, bilayer sheets, and/ormicelles). The coating material may be provided in a suitable amount, ordesired amount. The coating step may be followed by an incubation step.The incubation may include incubating for a few minutes, or one hour ormore than one hour, or for several hours, or overnight. The coating stepmay include a suspension/dispersion/gelation/emulsion and/or a dryingphase. Several coating steps may be performed in series, with the sameor different coating materials. After coating, the coated composition(s)may be further agitated, sonicated, filtered, and/or sterilized.

Resulting compositions may, in final form, be particulated. Theparticles may have a large size distribution, or may be selected for aparticular size. Generally, nanoparticle sizes are acceptable.Representative particle size examples include any size or range of sizesfrom 1 nm to 1000 nm, or any size or range of sizes therebetween. Ahigher diversity in nanoparticle size will generally be associated withlarger variations in release of the one or more active components fromthe particles.

Representative and non-limiting examples are provided below.

Compositions containing a lauric acid derivative, 12-aminododecanoicacid or 12-amino-1-dodecanoic acid methyl ester, were prepared, and thepreparations were performed independently (with either12-aminododecanoic acid or 12-amino-1-dodecanoic acid methyl ester).

Initially, to determine basic characteristics, each active component wasseparately mixed, generally under agitated conditions, with water, andeach was miscible with water. Each, after being mixed with water, wastested in a broth microdilution assay, against a variety of bacteriausing amounts of the each of the lauric acid derivatives, ranging fromabout 0.0009 wt. % to about 8 wt. %. The bacteria included Escherichiacoli, and Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA strains). The minimuminhibitory concentration (MIC) needed to prevent growth of the targetbacteria was evaluated based on a method published by ClinicalLaboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), broth microdilution method M-07(M07). In one or more embodiments, each active component (e.g., lauricacid derivative) as so prepared independently demonstrated no inhibitoryactivity against any of the bacteria tested, whether Gram-positive orGram-negative. Each of the samples containing one of the lauric acidderivatives was compared with a positive control, decanoic acid.Decanoic acid, when prepared independently, was not miscible in water.

In another preparation, each of the lauric acid derivatives of TABLE 4was independently suspended in an organic solvent, chloroform, and thenmixed with water, generally under agitated conditions. This was followedby chloroform evaporation, generally under vacuum, using a freeze dryer.The same preparations were evaluated against the positive control,decanoic acid. Here, for all samples, the amount of water to the amountof chloroform was at least 2:1, and was as high as 10:1. The pH wasneutral or was acidic. For each of the lauric acid derivatives as soprepared independently, there was no evidence of any growth inhibitoryactivity (growth inhibition) against representative bacteria tested invitro, whether Gram-positive or Gram-negative. The positive control,decanoic acid, similarly prepared, also did not demonstrate growthinhibitory activity against representative bacteria when tested invitro.

In a further preparation, a lauric acid derivative, 12-aminododecanoicacid or 12-amino-1-dodecanoic acid methyl ester, was suspendedindividually (and independently) in an organic solvent, chloroform, andmixed with water, generally under agitated conditions. Here, for eachsample, the amount of water to the amount of chloroform was at least2:1, and was as high as 10:1. This was followed by chloroformevaporation, generally under vacuum using a freeze dryer. After removalof the chloroform, a lecithin solution was added to each sample. Thelecithin was in a solution of acetic acid (e.g., 98 mM acetic acid and 2mM sodium acetate), in which the amount of lecithin in solution wasbetween about 1% to 5%. With addition of lecithin, each sample mixturecontained up to about 4.8% lecithin (or generally about 5% or less), andup to about 7.8% of one of the lauric acid derivatives (or generallyabout 8% or less). pH of the solution was neutral. It is noted that thelecithin should be in a suitable form (e.g., solution or granules)acceptable for internal utilization (e.g., pharmaceutical grade). Thelecithin may also include cholesterol, or other lecithin variants asdescribed above, with similar results. Chitosan was then added to eachof the samples, and each sample was then independently sonicated,followed by independent sterilization by high pressure filtration. Thechitosan, as a coating, was generally mixed into the samples afteraddition of lecithin. The chitosan was added in several amounts up toabout 10% (w/v). Chitosan was provided in solution (generally in thesame solution provided with the lecithin, which was the solution ofacetic acid, provided as 98 mM acetic acid and 2 mM sodium acetate). Themixing included stirring. With addition of chitosan, each sample mixturegenerally contained up to about 4.8% lecithin (or generally about 10% orless, or about 9% or less, or about 8% or less, or about 7% or less, orabout 6% or less, or about 5% or less), up to about 5% chitosan (orgenerally about 10% or less, or about 9% or less, or about 8% or less,or about 7% or less, or about 6% or less, or about 5% or less), and upto about 7.8% of one of the lauric acid derivatives (or generally about10% or less, or about 9% or less, or about 8% or less, or about 7% orless, or about 6% or less, or about 5% or less). Some sample mixturescontained about 0.75% chitosan (or between about 0.5% to about 1%, orany range or amount therebetween), about 1% lecithin (or between about0.5% to about 2%, or any range or amount therebetween), and about 0.5%of one of the lauric acid derivatives (or between about 0.5% to about1%, or any range or amount therebetween). Some mixtures were at a pH ofbetween pH 5 and pH 7. Some mixtures were at a pH of about pH 9. Afteraddition of chitosan, each of the samples was either simply filtered(e.g., via high pressure filtration for sterilization, or with 0.45micrometer sterilized filter). In some embodiments, samples weresonicated, and thereafter underwent high pressure filtration forsterilization, or were filtered with 0.45 micrometer sterilized filter.Such samples just described, after filtration, or after sonication andfiltration, were generally particulated, and may be reconstituted(and/or for dilution purposes), as necessary. Such samples may also befreeze dried. Said samples are also suitable for encapsulation. In someembodiments, sonication can decrease particle size, and also improveuniformity in size distribution (narrow the size distribution). In brothmicrodilution assays, each of the compositions, when formed as justdescribed, exhibited growth inhibitory activity against representativeGram-positive pathogens and yeast, including the Gram-positive bacterialstrains described and shown. The same preparation steps just describedfor the lauric acid derivatives samples were performed with the positivecontrol, decanoic acid.

For TABLES 1 to 3, compositions were generally prepared as describedabove, and as further outlined in this paragraph. For these examples,the active component, as a lauric acid derivative or lauric acid, wassuspended in an organic solvent, chloroform, and then mixed with water,under robust agitation. The amount of water to the amount of chloroformwas at least about 2:1, and could be as high as 10:1. Chloroform wasthen evaporated (e.g., under vacuum using a freeze dryer). After removalof the chloroform, a 2.2% lecithin solution in an acetate buffer (e.g.,98 mM acetic acid and 2 mM sodium acetate) was prepared and added, sothe final amount of the active component was about 1 part activecomponent mixture and about 9 parts of the 2.2% lecithin solution. Ofcourse, it is noted that other ranges to achieve final amount of theactive component as described above (e.g., active component mixture andlecithin solution) may also be utilized. Cholesterol could also beoptionally added. The mixture of lecithin and the active component wasmixed and sonicated, and then a solution of about 1.5% chitosan wasadded. Thereafter, the entirety of the mixture containing the lecithinand the active component was further blended, in which a final ratio wasabout 1 part active component to about 9 parts of the 2.2% lecithinsolution to about 10 parts of the 1.5% chitosan solution. The pH wasthen varied, to a pH of 5, or a pH of 7, or a pH of 9. In some mixtureshaving a pH of 7, a chemical agent imparting a positive charge to thechitosan was included in a form of glycol chitosan. In these tests, thechemical agent used was glycol (glycol chitosan). In these examples, theamount of chemical agent, glycol was about one molecule glycol moiety toone molecule chitosan saccharide unit; higher amounts of glycol moietiesare also acceptable, while lower amounts of glycol moieties were oftenfound to decrease overall inhibitory activity associated with acomposition when formed and tested in vitro. It is noted that negativelycharged chitosan containing particles were prepared. The negativelycharged chitosan containing particles exhibited no inhibitory activity.After mixing, the mixtures could each be filtered through a 0.45microMol filter. In some tests, the mixtures were sonicated beforefiltering. Sonication produced small particles. In some studies,particles were freeze dried as a powder (generally, after mixing,sonicating and filtering). In such freeze-dried preparation, allcompositions were found to retain their activity. This shows thatparticles may be stored, and/or encapsulated, any of which should have along shelf-life.

The positive controls were prepared and evaluated in a similar manner.All prepared samples were tested using a broth microdilution test.

Without being bound by theory, the charge of the chitosan or carriermaterial on compositions described herein appears to influence the typeof action exhibited by certain chitosan- or carrier-containing particlesdescribed herein. For example, synthesis of chitosan- orcarrier-containing particles at a neutral pH (e.g., pH 7) in the mannerdescribed herein appears to improve the degree of activity of the lauricacid derivatives against Gram-positive pathogens, such that inhibitoryactivity or growth inhibition is stronger in the compositions describedherein, particularly when the active component when used alone (and notin a composition as described herein) exhibited some but only very weakactivity against certain Gram-positive pathogens. When the chitosan- orcarrier-containing particle includes an active component that has ahigher hydrophobicity (having log P value less than 4), then there isboth a stronger inhibitory activity as well as broad spectrum activityagainst both Gram-positive pathogens (e.g., Gram-positive pathogensdescribed herein) and Gram-negative pathogens (e.g., Gram-negativepathogens described herein) when the chitosan- or carrier-containingparticles are synthesized in a hydroxyl-dominated environment (e.g.,when synthesis occurs at pH 9, or when synthesis occurs at pH 7 or pH 9and the chitosan or carrier material is a positively charged chitosan orcarrier material). This also occurs when the chitosan- orcarrier-containing particle includes an active component that has a logP value that is less than 4 and includes a methyl and/or ethyl sidechain (e.g., 12-amino-1-dodecanoic acid methyl ester). It is noted thatsynthesis of negatively charged chitosan-containing particles showed noactivity against Gram-positive or Gram-negative pathogens. Examples ofactive components that have a log P value less than 4 include12-aminododecanoic acid, 12-amino-1-dodecanoic acid methyl ester, andsucrose monolaurate. For sucrose monolaurate, the stronger inhibitoryactivity as well as broad spectrum activity against both Gram-positivepathogens and Gram-negative pathogens was observed in vitro at leastwhen a hydroxyl dominated environment was created by performing thesynthesis (with chitosan) at pH 9. For 12-aminododecanoic acid,12-amino-1-dodecanoic acid methyl ester, and sucrose monolaurate, thestronger inhibitory activity as well as broad spectrum activity againstboth Gram-positive pathogens and Gram-negative pathogens, was observedin vitro at least when a hydroxyl dominated environment was created byperforming the synthesis (with chitosan) at pH 7 and by utilizing apositively charged chitosan in the synthesis. Having an active componentwith a log P value less than 4, (or less than 3) will, thereby,influence activity characteristics of a composition or formulationprepared therefrom, and will allow, under different synthesisenvironments, as just described, the capability of creating a selectiveor a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent.

The broad spectrum activity of a composition described herein isexemplified in TABLE 5, in which the active component, sucrosemonolaurate, being hydrophobic and having a log P value less than 4, wasprepared in a manner described above, which included synthesis ofchitosan-containing particles by initially blending about 1 part sucrosemonolaurate with about 9 parts 2.2% lecithin solution in an acetatebuffer, mixing and sonicating, and then adding about 1.5% chitosan in anacetate buffer, such that a final ratio is about 1 part sucrosemonolaurate to about 9 parts of 2.2% lecithin solution to about 10 partsof 1.5% chitosan solution. With the chitosan solution, the mixture is ina buffered solution that is at pH 9. After the chitosan is added, themixture is blended, sonicated and filtered through a sterile filter.Samples, in a particulated form, and up to 10 mg/ml were evaluated forinhibitory activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens,including antibiotic-resistant pathogens. The antibiotic-resistantstrains tested included at least twelve of the antibiotic-resistantbacteria identified by the WHO Global Priority List as being of concern,and three of the tested strains being those considered to be of criticalconcern (Priority 1). Representative findings are provided in TABLE 5,depicting the pathogens tested with a composition comprising the activecomponent, sucrose monolaurate, prepared at pH 9 in order to harness thebroad-spectrum activity of the active component.

TABLE 5 Growth inhibition (chitosan prep. Pathogen mixture at pH 9)Acinetobacter baumannii, carbapenem-resistant + Pseudomonas aeruginosa,carbapenem-resistant + Enterobacteriaceae, carbapenem-resistant, +cephalosporin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant, +vancomycin resistant Campylobacter, fluoroquinolone-resistant +Salmonella spp., fluoroquinolone-resistant + Streptococcus pneumoniae +Shigella spp., fluoroquinolone-resistant + Chlostridium difficile +Candida + Mycobacteria spp. + Group A Streptococcus + Group BStreptococcus +

Laboratory trials have shown that no resistance has developed inpathogens exposed to the compositions described herein, even with longterm, repeated exposure (data not shown). In addition, no intrinsicresistance can or has been detected in target pathogens. Animal trialsshow no safety concerns, in which various groups of 10 mice are given aset of capsules, orally, three times per day and continued for sevendays, each of the set of capsules containing approximately 4 mg of oneof the active components, either 12-amino-1-dodecanoic acid methylester, or sucrose monolaurate (independently), and each of the activecomponents in the chitosan-containing particles prepared generally asdescribed herein. A placebo group is also included, in which a group of10 mice are given a placebo set of capsules, orally, three times per dayand continued for seven days, each of the placebo set of capsulescontaining similarly prepared chitosan-containing particles without anactive component, the preparation being generally as described herein.Initial mice have been infected with Salmonella typhimurium prior tooral delivery of one of the set of capsules. The capsules may bevegetable capsules. The capsules may have an enteric coating. Fordelivery, a formulation may be prepared in a manner understood in therelevant art. For delivery, a formulation may be in at least any one ormore of the following forms: liquid, capsule, dried powder, mist, andthe like. For delivery, the formulation will contain pharmaceuticalgrade materials, including one or more excipients and or fillers forinternal and/or topical delivery in sufficient amounts known to those ofskill in the relevant art. Flavors, colors, sugars, sugar-substitutes,and the like may also be included in any of the formulations, as isunderstood to those of skill in the relevant art.

Active components of the compositions described herein are associatedwith a strong safety profile. Active components of the compositionsdescribed herein have GRAS status in the U.S.

The above description and examples demonstrate unexpectedly that thedescribed active components (one or more of lauric acid, and lauric acidderivatives), prepared in the unexpected and/or nonobvious manner, asdescribed above, may be so prepared to alter the level of action and/orscope of activity of a final composition. As such, a composition may bemanipulated to achieve a different level of activity and/or a moreselective or expansive inhibitory action. This allows fine tuning whereneeded in the treatment of one or more pathogens. At least some of thecomposition described herein are capable of providing bacteriostaticagainst gram-positive bacteria, as well as gram-negative bacteria. Thebroad spectrum inhibitory activity found as described herein would nothave been anticipated, particularly in view of the conflicting andcontradictory reports that pre-date these findings. The inhibitoryactivity found with the active components described herein appear todiffer from previous understandings of lauric acid.

By utilizing preparations described herein, formulations containing thelauric acid and/or any one or more of the lauric acid derivatives may beprepared as described herein, at desired dosing concentrations and/orfor desired inhibitory activity, and, when necessary, with theappropriate fillers and/or additives (e.g., excipient, colorant,flavorant, etc.) known to the skilled artisan (e.g., to provide aformulation in the form of any one or more of a liquid, gel, suspension,tablet, caplet, capsule, granules, powder, inhalant, lozenge, mouthwash,cream, lotion, and the like). Such formulations may now be internalized,which has not been previously shown. Dosing of any of the formulationsmay be maximized based on pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamics data,which can be obtained by known methods known already in the relevantart.

In addition, any of said compositions described herein may still bedeliverable topically. Thus, formulations, when properly prepared in themanner described herein and with further preparation dependent on theform of deliver (and in a manner known to the skilled artisan in therelevant art), may be administered for delivery internally and/orexternally, and may be further tailored for inhibiting growth(bacteriostatic activity) and/or killing (bactericidal activity) of oneor more susceptible pathogens. The nature of the lauric acid and lauricacid derivatives prepared as described herein makes them suitable formany uses. The lauric acid derivatives described herein are likelyactive at inhibiting growth and/or killing yeast, as well as fungi. Oneor more lauric acid derivatives described herein are active againstselect Gram-positive bacteria or yeast. One or more lauric acidderivatives may be provided at sub-inhibitory amounts for bacteriostaticactivity. One or more lauric acid derivatives may be provided seriallyat sub-inhibitory amounts for bacteriostatic activity. Higher and lowerdoses can also be administered with greater or lesser efficacy.Formulations of the described compositions can be administered forinternal and/or external activity at or around a pathogen MIC foranti-inflammatory activity. Formulations of the described compositionscan be administered for internal and/or external activity below thepathogen MIC for anti-inflammatory activity with or without serialexposures to reduce resistance development (or change in MIC).Formulations of the described compositions can also be administeredoutside the pathogen MIC range and still provide anti-inflammatoryactivity.

Although representative processes and compositions have been describedin detail herein, those skilled in the art will recognize that varioussubstitutions and modifications for preparation of the new lauric acidderivatives may be made without departing from the scope and spirit ofwhat is described and defined by the appended claims.

1. A composition having broad spectrum antimicrobial action comprising:a lauric acid derivative as an active component of the composition, thelauric acid derivative being one of a strongly hydrophobic 12-carbonchain fatty acid and a strongly hydrophobic 12-carbon chain fatty acidester, each having one or more carbon-containing side chains, in whicheach lauric acid derivative also has a partition coefficient, P, and tobe strongly hydrophobic its log P value will be less than 4; andlecithin components containing phospholipids and at least one bulkyfatty acid having a carbon chain length from between about 14 and 20,and in an amount up to about 50 wt. % of the composition, wherein thecomposition is in a form of nanoparticles, and is suitable forutilization in a formulation, the formulation as pharmacotherapy for asubject in need of a broad spectrum antimicrobial, having growthinhibitory action against more than one species of susceptiblepathogenic microorganisms, and capable of having antimicrobial actionagainst one or more susceptible Gram-positive bacteria and one or moresusceptible Gram-negative bacteria.
 2. The composition of claim 1,wherein the lauric acid derivative is in an amount between about 0.001wt. % and 30 wt. % of the composition, and is selected as one or morefrom a group consisting of 12-aminododecanoic acid,12-amino-1-dodecanoic acid methyl ester, sucrose monolaurate,12-(7-nitrobenzofurazan-4-ylamino) dodecanoic acid, 4-nitrophenyldodecanoate, 1-lauroyl-rac-glycerol, 3-oxo-N-(2-oxocyclohexyl)dodecanamide, butyl laurate, benzyl laurate, isoamyl laurate,monolaurin, isopropyl laurate, pentyl laurate, hexyl laurate, andcombinations thereof.
 3. The composition of claim 1, wherein thelecithin components are in an amount up to about 10 wt. % of thecomposition.
 4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the lecithincomponents are in an amount up to about 30 wt. % of the composition, andwherein the lecithin components are any one or more of; naturallyoccurring lecithin components; predominantly phosphatidylcholine;phospholipids and glycophospholipids; and a mixture ofphosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol,phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylserine, with or withoutlysophospholipids.
 5. The composition of claim 1, wherein thecomposition further comprises glycol chitosan in an amount up to about10 wt. % of the composition.
 6. The composition of claim 1, wherein thecomposition further comprises a sufficient amount of one or moreexcipients forming the formulation.
 7. The composition of claim 1,wherein the composition is a suspension comprising the nanoparticles. 8.The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is in a dry orpowder form comprising the nanoparticles.
 9. The composition of claim 1,wherein the composition further comprises glycol chitosan on an outerportion of the nanoparticles.
 10. A method of making a composition, thecomposition having broad spectrum antimicrobial action, the methodcomprising: suspending at least one of a lauric acid derivative with anevaporatable organic solvent having a low VOC to form a suspension, thelauric acid derivative being one of a strongly hydrophobic 12-carbonchain fatty acid and a strongly hydrophobic 12-carbon chain fatty acidester, each having one or more carbon-containing side chains, in whicheach lauric acid derivative also has a partition coefficient, P, and tobe strongly hydrophobic its log P value will be less than 4; mixing thesuspension with water; combining the suspension with lecithin componentscontaining a mixture of phospholipids and at least one bulky fatty acidhaving a carbon chain length from between about 14 and 20 to form amixture, the lecithin components in an alkaline solution; and sonicatingand then filtering the mixture, thereby obtaining a compositioncontaining nanoparticles, the composition containing the nanoparticlesbeing suitable for use in a formulation, the formulation aspharmacotherapy for a subject in need of a broad spectrum antimicrobial,having growth inhibitory action against more than one species ofsusceptible pathogenic microorganisms and capable of havingantimicrobial action against one or more Gram positive bacteria and oneor more Gram-negative bacteria.
 11. The method of claim 10, whereingrowth of the susceptible pathogenic microorganism, when exposed to thecomposition, is inhibited by the composition.
 12. The method of claim 10wherein combining the suspension with the lecithin components furthercomprises including a chitosan, the chitosan being in a same solution asthe lecithin components, thereby, after sonicating, providing acomposition containing chitosan coated nanoparticles, the compositioncontaining the chitosan coated nanoparticles being suitable for aformulation for pharmacotherapy for a subject in need of a broadspectrum antimicrobial.
 13. A nanoparticle composition having broadspectrum antimicrobial action, the nanoparticle composition comprisingat least three characteristics selected from a group comprising: (i)being one of a strongly hydrophobic 12-carbon chain fatty acid or astrongly hydrophobic 12-carbon chain fatty acid ester as an activecomponent of the composition; (ii) having a carbon-containing a sidechain on the active component, and (iii) each active component alsohaving a partition coefficient, P, and to be strongly hydrophobic, a LogP value of the active component must be calculated and less than 4,wherein the nanoparticle composition is suitable for utilization in aformulation, the formulation as pharmacotherapy for a subject in need ofa broad spectrum antimicrobial.
 14. The nanoparticle composition ofclaim 13, wherein the nanoparticle composition further compriseslecithin components containing a mixture of phospholipids and at leastone bulky fatty acid having a carbon chain length from between about 14and 20, and in an amount up to about 50 wt. % of the composition. 15.The nanoparticle composition of claim 13, wherein the nanoparticlecomposition is formulated as an antimicrobial, and exhibits inhibitorygrowth activity against more than one susceptible pathogen, and, as anantimicrobial, it is capable of having antimicrobial action against oneor more susceptible Gram-negative bacteria and one or more susceptibleGram-positive bacteria.
 16. The nanoparticle composition of claim 13,wherein the subject has or is suspected of having one or moresusceptible Gram-negative bacteria from a group consisting ofEnterobacteriaceae, Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii,Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Campylobacter, Shigella spp, and combinationsthereof.
 17. The nanoparticle composition of claim 13, wherein thesubject has or is suspected of having one or more susceptibleGram-positive bacteria from a group consisting of Staphylococcus aureus,Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Chlostridiumdifficile, Mycobacterium spp., Group A Streptococcus, and Group BStreptococcus.
 18. The nanoparticle composition of claim 13, wherein thenanoparticle composition further comprises lecithin componentscontaining a mixture of phospholipids and at least one bulky fatty acidhaving a carbon chain length from between about 14 and 20, and in anamount up to about 50 wt. % of the composition, the lecithin componentsbeing selected as one or more from a group consisting of12-aminododecanoic acid, 12-amino-1-dodecanoic acid methyl ester,sucrose monolaurate, 12-(7-nitrobenzofurazan-4-ylamino) dodecanoic acid,4-nitrophenyl dodecanoate, 1-lauroyl-rac-glycerol,3-oxo-N-(2-oxocyclohexyl) dodecanamide, butyl laurate, benzyl laurate,isoamyl laurate, monolaurin, isopropyl laurate, pentyl laurate, hexyllaurate, and combinations thereof.
 19. The nanoparticle composition ofclaim 13, wherein the nanoparticle composition further comprises: (i)lecithin components in an amount up to about 30 wt. % of the compositionand containing a mixture of phospholipids and at least one bulky fattyacid having a carbon chain length from between about 14 and 20; and (ii)chitosan in an amount up to about 10 wt. % of the nanoparticlecomposition.
 20. The nanoparticle composition of claim 14, wherein theactive component is selected as one or more from a group consisting of12-aminododecanoic acid, 12-amino-1-dodecanoic acid methyl ester,sucrose monolaurate, 12-(7-nitrobenzofurazan-4-ylamino) dodecanoic acid,4-nitrophenyl dodecanoate, 1-lauroyl-rac-glycerol,3-oxo-N-(2-oxocyclohexyl) dodecanamide, butyl laurate, benzyl laurate,isoamyl laurate, monolaurin, isopropyl laurate, pentyl laurate, hexyllaurate, and combinations thereof, the active component being in anamount up to about 30 wt. % of the nanoparticle composition.